Reception apparatus, reception method, transmission apparatus, and transmission method

ABSTRACT

[Object] The present technology relates to a reception apparatus, a reception method, a transmission apparatus, and a transmission method capable of limiting use of broadcast resources by a predetermined application. [Solving Means] There is provided a reception apparatus including: a control information obtaining unit that obtains first control information for controlling an operation of a first application, the first application being capable of requesting use of a broadcast resource transmitted via a digital broadcasting signal; and an application controller that controls, when the first application requests use of the broadcast resource, the use of the broadcast resource by the first application on the basis of the first control information.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase of International PatentApplication No. PCT/JP2015/063268 filed on May 8, 2015, which claimspriority benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2014-106129 filedin the Japan Patent Office on May 22, 2014. Each of the above-referencedapplications is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology relates to a reception apparatus, a receptionmethod, a transmission apparatus, and a transmission method and moreparticularly to a reception apparatus, a reception method, atransmission apparatus, and a transmission method capable of limitinguse of broadcast resources by a predetermined application.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, there are provided receiver apparatuses capable of notonly receiving AV content transmitted via digital broadcasting signalsbut also receiving applications and VOD (Video On Demand) contentdistributed via the Internet (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2011-66556

SUMMARY Problem to be Solved

Meanwhile, according to an envisaged operation of this type of receiverapparatus, when an application obtained in an environment, which isdifferent from a broadcast service in which a broadcasting stationprovides apps via broadcast waves, such as distribution via theInternet, for example, is going to use broadcast resources such as AVcontent, use of broadcast resources by a predetermined application maybe limited. However, such a technological system for limiting use ofbroadcast resources by a predetermined application is not established.

The present technology has been made in view of the above-mentionedcircumstances, and it is desirable to limit use of broadcast resourcesby a predetermined application.

Means for Solving the Problem

According to a first aspect of the present technology, a receptionapparatus includes: a reception unit that receives a digitalbroadcasting signal; an application obtaining unit that obtains a firstapplication, the first application being capable of requesting use of abroadcast resource transmitted via the digital broadcasting signal; acontrol information obtaining unit that obtains first controlinformation for controlling an operation of the first application; andan application controller that controls, when the first applicationrequests use of the broadcast resource, the use of the broadcastresource by the first application on the basis of the first controlinformation.

The control information obtaining unit may further obtain second controlinformation for controlling an operation of a second application, thesecond application being activated in a broadcast service, and theapplication controller may limit the use of the broadcast resource bythe first application when continuation of the operation using thebroadcast resource by the first application is not permitted on thebasis of a result of checking the first control information against thesecond control information.

The application controller may continue the operation of the firstapplication and does not display the broadcast resource when thecontinuation of the operation using the broadcast resource by the firstapplication is not permitted.

The application controller may terminate the operation of the firstapplication and displays the broadcast resource in a normal status whenthe continuation of the operation using the broadcast resource by thefirst application is not permitted.

The application controller may continue the operation of the firstapplication when the continuation of the operation using the broadcastresource by the first application is permitted, the first applicationbeing operated as the second application.

The reception apparatus may further include a trigger informationobtaining unit that obtains trigger information for controlling theoperation of the second application, in which the control informationobtaining unit may obtain the second control information on the basis ofthe trigger information.

The application controller may limit the use of the broadcast resourceby the first application when the first application has no authority toaccess the broadcast resource on the basis of broadcast permissioninformation indicating authority to access each broadcast service, thefirst control information including the broadcast permissioninformation.

The application controller may continue the operation of the firstapplication and may not display the broadcast resource when the firstapplication has no authority to access the broadcast resource.

The application controller may terminate the operation of the firstapplication and displays the broadcast resource in a normal status whenthe first application has no authority to access the broadcast resource.

The application obtaining unit may obtain the first application whensignature information is verified by using a predetermined certificate,the first control information including the signature information.

The broadcast permission information may be specified for each broadcastservice in a bitmap format.

According to the first aspect of the present technology, the receptionapparatus may be an independent apparatus or may be an internal blockconfiguring a single apparatus.

A reception method according to the above-mentioned first aspect of thepresent technology is a reception method corresponding to the receptionapparatus according to the first aspect of the present technology.

In the reception apparatus according to the first aspect of the presenttechnology and a reception method, the reception apparatus receives adigital broadcasting signal; obtains a first application, the firstapplication being capable of requesting use of a broadcast resourcetransmitted via the digital broadcasting signal; obtains first controlinformation for controlling an operation of the first application; andcontrols the use of the broadcast resource by the first application onthe basis of the first control information when the first applicationrequests use of the broadcast resource.

According to a second aspect of the present technology, a transmissionapparatus includes: a control information generator that generates firstcontrol information for controlling an operation of a first application,the first application being capable of requesting use of a broadcastresource transmitted via a digital broadcasting signal, the firstcontrol information being used when the broadcast resource is used bythe first application; and a transmission unit that transmits the firstcontrol information via a network in response to a request from areceiver apparatus.

The first control information may be used for checking against secondcontrol information for controlling an operation of a second applicationwhen the broadcast resource is used by the first application, the secondapplication being activated in a broadcast service.

The first control information may include information indicating, whencontinuation of the operation using the broadcast resource by the firstapplication is not permitted, to continue the operation of the firstapplication and not to display the broadcast resource or to terminatethe operation of the first application and display the broadcastresource in a normal status.

The first control information may include broadcast permissioninformation indicating authority to access each broadcast service.

The first control information may include information indicating, whenthe first application has no authority to access the broadcast resource,to continue the operation of the first application and not to displaythe broadcast resource or to terminate the operation of the firstapplication and display the broadcast resource in a normal status.

The first control information may include signature information, thesignature information being used for verification using a predeterminedcertificate when obtaining the first application.

The broadcast permission information may be specified for each broadcastservice in a bitmap format.

According to the second aspect of the present technology, thetransmission apparatus may be an independent apparatus or may be aninternal block configuring a single apparatus.

A transmission method according to the above-mentioned second aspect ofthe present technology is a transmission method corresponding to thetransmission apparatus according to the second aspect of the presenttechnology.

In the transmission apparatus according to the second aspect of thepresent technology and a transmission method, the transmission apparatusgenerates first control information for controlling an operation of afirst application, the first application being capable of requesting useof a broadcast resource transmitted via a digital broadcasting signal,the first control information being used when the broadcast resource isused by the first application; and transmits the first controlinformation via a network in response to a request from a receiverapparatus.

Effects

According to the first aspect and the second aspect of the presenttechnology, it is possible to limit use of broadcast resources by apredetermined application.

It should be noted that the effect described here is not necessarilylimitative and may be any effect described in the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A diagram showing transition of the screen of the broadcastrelated app.

FIG. 2 A diagram showing the status transition of the receiver apparatusthat executes the broadcast related app.

FIG. 3 A diagram showing the operation of the receiver apparatus thatexecutes the broadcast related app.

FIG. 4 A diagram showing correspondence between trigger information forcontrolling the operation of the broadcast related app and TPT.

FIG. 5 A diagram showing a description example of the TPT for broadcastrelated app.

FIG. 6 A diagram showing an example of a TPT syntax for the broadcastrelated app.

FIG. 7 A diagram showing transition of the screen of the broadcastindependent app.

FIG. 8 A diagram showing the processing flow of the entire system of thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 9 A diagram showing the status transition of the receiver apparatusthat executes the broadcast independent app.

FIG. 10 A diagram showing the operations of the receiver apparatus thatexecutes the broadcast independent app.

FIG. 11 A diagram showing a description example of the TPT for broadcastindependent app.

FIG. 12 A diagram showing an example of a TPT syntax for the broadcastindependent app.

FIG. 13 A diagram showing the processing flow of the entire system ofthe second embodiment.

FIG. 14 A diagram showing the status transition of the receiverapparatus that executes the broadcast independent app.

FIG. 15 A diagram showing the operations of the receiver apparatus thatexecutes the broadcast independent app.

FIG. 16 A diagram showing a description example of the TPT for broadcastindependent app.

FIG. 17 A diagram showing an example of a TPT syntax for the broadcastindependent app.

FIG. 18 A diagram showing the content of BroadcastPermission element indetail.

FIG. 19 A diagram showing an example of a permission bitmap.

FIG. 20 A diagram showing a configuration example of the broadcastcommunication system.

FIG. 21 A diagram showing a configuration example of the transmissionapparatus.

FIG. 22 A configuration example of the reception apparatus.

FIG. 23 A diagram showing a configuration example of the controller.

FIG. 24 A diagram showing configuration examples of the servers.

FIG. 25 A flowchart illustrating the digital broadcasting signaltransmission processing.

FIG. 26 A flowchart illustrating the digital broadcasting signalreception processing.

FIG. 27 A flowchart illustrating the first processing for supporting thebroadcast independent app.

FIG. 28 A flowchart illustrating the second processing for supportingthe broadcast independent app.

FIG. 29 A flowchart illustrating the broadcast independent app providingprocessing.

FIG. 30 A flowchart illustrating the TPT providing processing.

FIG. 31 A diagram showing another configuration example of the broadcastcommunication system.

FIG. 32 A diagram showing the operations of the receiver apparatus whenfingerprint information is used.

FIG. 33 A diagram schematically illustrating the ACR technology.

FIG. 34 A diagram showing a configuration example of a computer.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present technology will be describedwith reference to the drawings. Note that descriptions will be made inthe following order.

1. Broadcast Related Application 2. Broadcast Independent Application(1) First Embodiment (2) Second Embodiment 3. System Configuration 4.Flows of Processing Executed by Apparatuses 5. Modification Example 6.Configuration of Computer 1. Broadcast Related Application

Broadcast Related Application is an application activated in a broadcastservice that a broadcasting station provides via broadcast waves.Herein, the broadcast related application executed by a receiverapparatus capable of receiving digital broadcasting signals will bedescribed.

Note that the broadcast related application contains, for example, HTML(HyperText Markup Language) files and the like. In the followingdescription, the broadcast related application will be referred to as“broadcast related app”. Further, Broadcast Related Application will besometimes abbreviated to “Broadcast Related App”.

(Transition of the Screen of the Broadcast Related App)

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing transition of the screen of the broadcastrelated app.

In FIG. 1, a screen on which only AV (Audio Video) content such as abroadcast program is reproduced will be referred to as “broadcast fullscreen”. A screen on which AV content is reproduced and the broadcastrelated app is executed at the same time will be referred to as“app+broadcast screen”. Note that the same names of the screens areapplied to the other diagrams to be described later.

When the receiver apparatus is powered on, the receiver apparatusdisplays the image of the broadcast program of the channel X on the“broadcast full screen”. Further, when the broadcast related app App1for the broadcast program of the channel X is activated while thereceiver apparatus displays the image of the broadcast program of thechannel X on the “broadcast full screen”, the screen makes a transitionfrom the “broadcast full screen” to the “app+broadcast screen”. The“app+broadcast screen” is an L-style screen, in which the image of thebroadcast program of the channel X is zoomed out and information on thebroadcast related app App1 is displayed on the margin. In other words,the image of the broadcast program of the channel X is displayed on thesub-screen.

Note that when the broadcast related app App1 is terminated while the“app+broadcast screen” is displayed, the screen makes a transition fromthe “app+broadcast screen” to the “broadcast full screen”. The image ofthe broadcast program of the channel X displayed on the sub-screen isreturned to the normal size.

Here, when a user switches the channel from X to Y while the“app+broadcast screen” is displayed, the image displayed on thesub-screen of the “app+broadcast screen” is switched from the image ofthe broadcast program of the channel X to the image of the broadcastprogram of the channel Y. Further, the receiver apparatus terminates thebroadcast related app App1 for the broadcast program of the channel X,and activates the broadcast related app App2 for the broadcast programof the channel Y. As a result, the “app+broadcast screen” is an L-stylescreen, in which the image of the broadcast program of the channel Y iszoomed out and information on the broadcast related app App2 isdisplayed on the margin.

After that, when a user instructs to terminate the broadcast related appApp2, the broadcast related app App2 is terminated, the screen makes atransition from the “app+broadcast screen” to the “broadcast fullscreen”. The image of the broadcast program of the channel Y displayedon the sub-screen is returned to the normal size and displayed.

(Status Transition of Receiver Apparatus)

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the status transition of the receiverapparatus that executes the broadcast related app. As shown in FIG. 2,it is defined that the receiver apparatus makes a transition to the“terminal operation stop” status, the “broadcast reception (AV-onlyreproduction)” status, or the “broadcast reception (AVreproduction+broadcast related app execution)” status.

The “terminal operation stop” status means that the receiver apparatusis powered off. The “broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” statusmeans that only AV content such as a broadcast program is reproduced.The receiver apparatus, which has made a transition to this status,displays the “broadcast full screen” (FIG. 1). The “broadcast reception(AV reproduction+broadcast related app execution)” status means that AVcontent such as a broadcast program is reproduced and the broadcastrelated app is executed at the same time. The receiver apparatus, whichhas made a transition to this status, displays the “app+broadcastscreen” (FIG. 1).

When the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the “terminaloperation stop” status and is powered on, the status makes a transitionto the “broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status. Further,when the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the “broadcastreception (AV-only reproduction)” status and the broadcast related appis activated, the status makes a transition to the “broadcast reception(AV reproduction+broadcast related app execution)” status. Note that,when the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the “broadcastreception (AV-only reproduction)” status and is powered off, the statusmakes a transition to the “terminal operation stop” status.

When the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the “broadcastreception (AV reproduction+broadcast related app execution)” status andexecution of the broadcast related app is terminated, the status makes atransition to the “broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status.Note that, when the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the“broadcast reception (AV reproduction+broadcast related app execution)”status and is powered off, the status makes a transition to the“terminal operation stop” status.

(Operation of Receiver Apparatus)

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation of the receiver apparatus thatexecutes the broadcast related app. In other words, FIG. 3 shows theoperation of the receiver apparatus, which has made a transition to the“broadcast reception (AV reproduction+broadcast related app execution)”status of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 3, the transmitting apparatus (Broadcaster) of the broadcastingstation transmits digital broadcasting signals of AV content (“Content”of FIG. 3) including trigger information (“Trigger” of FIG. 3) (S1). Thereceiver apparatus (Receiver) obtains the trigger informationtransmitted together with the AV content, and determines whether toobtain the TPT (Trigger Parameters Table) or not on the basis of thetrigger information. Then, when the receiver apparatus determines toobtain the TPT, the receiver apparatus accesses the TPT server via anetwork and requests the TPT (S2).

The TPT server (TPT Server) transmits the TPT (“TPT” of FIG. 3) to thereceiver apparatus via the network in response to the request from thereceiver apparatus (S3). The receiver apparatus receives and holds theTPT transmitted from the TPT server. Then, when the receiver apparatusobtains the trigger information transmitted from the transmittingapparatus, the receiver apparatus determines, with reference to the TPTthat the receiver apparatus holds, a valid command corresponding to theevent ID when the event ID of the trigger information is consistent withthe event ID defined in the TPT.

The receiver apparatus accesses the application server via the networkand requests the broadcast related app on the basis of the commanddetermination result using the TPT (S4). The application server (AppServer) transmits the broadcast related app (“App” of FIG. 3) to thereceiver apparatus via the network in response to the request from thereceiver apparatus (S5). The receiver apparatus receives and activatesthe broadcast related app transmitted from the application server.

Further, every time the receiver apparatus obtains trigger informationtransmitted from the transmitting apparatus, a command corresponding tothe trigger information is determined on the basis of the TPT in order.Further, in response to the determined command, the receiver apparatussuspends, resumes, or terminates the broadcast related app beingexecuted.

As described above, when the receiver apparatus has made a transition tothe “broadcast reception (AV reproduction+broadcast related appexecution)” status of FIG. 2, the receiver apparatus cooperates with theTPT server and the application server on the basis of the triggerinformation from the transmitting apparatus, and thereby obtains thebroadcast related app executed with the AV content being reproduced andexecutes the obtained broadcast related app.

(Correspondence Between Trigger Information and TPT)

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing correspondence between trigger informationfor controlling the operation of the broadcast related app and TPT.

In FIG. 4, when the receiver apparatus obtains the trigger informationvia a broadcast stream, the receiver apparatus determines whether toobtain the TPT from the TPT server or not on the basis of the triggerinformation. Herein, in FIG. 4, URL (Uniform Resource Locator) includingdomain name and program_id is specified in “program1” contained in thetrigger information. So, for example, the receiver apparatus determinesto obtain the TPT when the program_id value is changed.

When the receiver apparatus determines to obtain the TPT, the receiverapparatus accesses the TPT server via the network on the basis of theURL including domain name and program_id, and obtains the TPT. As aresult, the receiver apparatus holds the updated TPT (FIG. 4).

To make the description simple, FIG. 4 only shows some elements and someattributes of the TPT. In other words, in the TPT of FIG. 4, a command(for example, “Prep”, “Exec”, “Susp”, “Kill”) identified by an event ID(ID) is defined for each broadcast related app identified by anapplication ID (AppID).

Here, for example, when the receiver apparatus obtains triggerinformation having event ID (ID)=“1”, the receiver apparatus determinesa prepare command (“Prep”) for the broadcast related app (applicationID=“1”) corresponding to event ID (ID)=“1” with reference to the TPT. Inresponse to the prepare command, the receiver apparatus accesses theapplication server via the network, obtains the broadcast related app,and registers the broadcast related app.

Further, when the receiver apparatus obtains trigger information havingevent ID (ID)=“2”, the receiver apparatus determines an execute command(“Exec”) for the broadcast related app (application ID=“1”)corresponding to event ID (ID)=“2” with reference to the TPT. Inresponse to the execute command, the receiver apparatus activates theobtained broadcast related app.

Further, when the receiver apparatus obtains trigger information havingevent ID (ID)=“4”, the receiver apparatus determines a kill command(“Kill”) for the broadcast related app (application ID=“1”)corresponding to event ID (ID)=“4” with reference to the TPT. Inresponse to the kill command, the receiver apparatus terminates thebroadcast related app being executed.

As described above, every time the receiver apparatus obtains triggerinformation via a broadcast stream, a command corresponding to thetrigger information is determined on the basis of the TPT in order. Inresponse to the determined command, the receiver apparatus controls theoperation of the broadcast related app.

(Description Example of TPT for Broadcast Related App)

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a description example of the TPT forbroadcast related app of FIG. 4.

In FIG. 5, “abc.tv/300” is specified for id attribute of tpt element.For example, this description means the TPT for AV content(program_id=“300”) broadcasted by the abc broadcasting station (domainname=“abc.tv”). Further, “1” is specified for tptVersion attribute as aversion of the TPT.

Further, two Application elements are described in tpt element.Application ID=“1” is specified by appID attribute and globalID=“abc.tv/100” is specified by globalID attribute for the broadcastrelated app specified by the first Application element. Note that globalID is specified by URI (Uniform Resource Identifier), which is globallyidentifiable.

Further, URL element is described in Application element, and“http://abc.com/app1” is specified as URL, from which the broadcastrelated app is obtained. Further, “true” specified for entry attributeof the URL element means that this URL is entered. Event elements aredescribed between the start tag and the end tag of Application element.EventId attribute and action attribute are described in each Eventelement.

Event ID=“1” is specified by eventId attribute and the prepare command(“prep”) is specified by action attribute for the first Event element.In other words, in the TPT of FIG. 5, the prepare command for thebroadcast related app having application ID=“1” is defined for triggerinformation having event ID=“1”.

Event ID=“2” is specified by eventId attribute and the execute command(“exec”) is specified by action attribute for the second Event element.In other words, in the TPT of FIG. 5, the execute command for thebroadcast related app having application ID=“1” is defined for triggerinformation having event ID=“2”.

Event ID=“3” is specified by eventId attribute and the suspend command(“susp”) is specified by action attribute for the third Event element.In other words, in the TPT of FIG. 5, the suspend command for thebroadcast related app having application ID=“1” is defined for triggerinformation having event ID=“3”.

Event ID=“4” is specified by eventId attribute and the kill command(“kill”) is specified by action attribute for the fourth Event element.In other words, in the TPT of FIG. 5, the kill command for the broadcastrelated app having application ID=“1” is defined for trigger informationhaving event ID=“4”.

Further, application ID=“2” is specified by appID attribute and globalID=“abc.tv/101” is specified by globallD attribute for the broadcastrelated app specified by the second Application element. Further,“http://abc.com/app2” is specified as URL, from which the broadcastrelated app is obtained, by using URL element. Event elements aredescribed between the start tag and the end tag of Application element.

Event ID=“11” is specified by eventId attribute and the execute command(“exec”) is specified by action attribute for the first Event element.In other words, in the TPT of FIG. 5, execute command for the broadcastrelated app having application ID=“2” is defined for trigger informationhaving event ID=“11”.

Event ID=“12” is specified by eventId attribute and the kill command(“kill”) is specified by action attribute for the second Event element.In other words, in the TPT of FIG. 5, kill command for the broadcastrelated app having application ID=“2” is defined for trigger informationhaving event ID=“12”.

(TPT Syntax for Broadcast Related App)

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a TPT syntax for the broadcastrelated app. The TPT of FIG. 6 is described in a markup language such asXML (Extensible Markup Language), for example.

In FIG. 6, TPT element is described as a root element of the TPT. In TPTelement, information such as an event for controlling the operation ofthe broadcast related app is described.

TPT element is a parent element of majorProtocolVersion attribute,minorProtocolVersion attribute, id attribute, tptVersion attribute,expireDate attribute, updatingTime attribute, serviceId attribute,baseURL attribute, Capabilities element, LiveTrigger element, andApplication element.

Information indicating the major version of the spec defined in the TPTis specified for majorProtocolVersion attribute. Information indicatingthe minor version of the spec defined in the TPT is specified forminorProtocolVersion attribute.

ID for identifying the TPT is specified for id attribute. For example, atext string, in which domain name and program_id are connected with “/”,is specified for id attribute. Note that program_id is an ID foridentifying AV content and corresponds to segment_id.

Information indicating the version of the TPT is specified fortptVersion attribute. Information indicating the expire date of the TPTis specified for expireDate attribute. Information indicating theupdating time period of the TPT is specified for updatingTime attribute.

A service ID is specified for serviceId attribute. The service IDindicates a service, by which the broadcast related app is transmitted,out of services transmitted via digital broadcasting signals. Forexample, when the broadcast related app is transmitted by an NRTservice, the service ID of the NRT service is specified for serviceIdattribute.

Note that, according to the NRT (Non-Real Time) service, NRT contenttransmitted by using a FLUTE (File Delivery over UnidirectionalTransport) session is once stored in storage of the receiver apparatusand then is reproduced. When the NRT service is used in transmittingapplications, the broadcast related app is transmitted instead of NRTcontent.

URL, which is the base of URL specified in the TPT, is specified forbaseURL attribute. In other words, a relative path on the basis of thebase URL may be specified for each of the other URLs specified in theTPT.

Information indicating a function, which is required for the receiverapparatus when using the TPT, is specified for Capabilities element. Inother words, when the receiver apparatus has the function specified byCapabilities element, the receiver apparatus determines that thereceiver apparatus is capable of using the TPT. Meanwhile, when thereceiver apparatus does not have the function specified by Capabilitieselement, the receiver apparatus ignores the TPT.

LiveTrigger element is a child element of TPT element. Information abouttrigger information, which is used by a broadcaster or the like toexecute an event at a desired timing when live-broadcasting AV content,is described for LiveTrigger element. In other words, the triggerinformation is active trigger information (Activation Trigger).LiveTrigger element includes URL attribute and pollPeriod attribute.

URL used for accessing a trigger server for providing triggerinformation is described in URL attribute. The time indicating theinterval of making an inquiry to the trigger server about triggerinformation is specified for pollPeriod attribute. The time is specifiedby seconds, for example.

Application element is a child element of TPT element. Information aboutthe broadcast related app is described in Application element.Application element is a parent element of appID attribute, appTypeattribute, appName attribute, globalId attribute, appVersion attribute,cookieSpace attribute, frequencyOfUse attribute, expireDate attribute,testApp attribute, availlnternet attribute, availBroadcast attribute,URL element, Capabilities element, ApplicationBoundary element,ContentItem element, and Event element.

Application ID for identifying the broadcast related app is specifiedfor appID attribute. Information about a file attribute and the like ofthe broadcast related app is specified for appType attribute.Information indicating the name of the broadcast related app isspecified for appName attribute. For example, when a plurality of thebroadcast related apps can be activated, their names are shown to a userto be selected, and the desired broadcast related app is thus activated.

A global ID globally-identifiable the broadcast related app is specifiedfor globalId attribute. Global ID is specified by using URI, forexample. Information indicating the version of the broadcast related appis specified for appVersion attribute. Information indicating thestorage volume necessary to execute the broadcast related app isspecified for cookieSpace attribute.

Information indicating the frequency of use of the broadcast related appis specified for frequencyOfUse attribute. for example, the frequency ofuse is specified by time or day. It is possible to cache the broadcastrelated app having higher frequency of use with higher priority.Information indicating the expire date of the broadcast related app isspecified for expireDate attribute.

TestApp attribute is specified when the broadcast related app is usedfor the purpose of product-development tests, for example. So testAppattribute is ignored in general operations. Information indicatingwhether the broadcast related app is distributed via the Internet or notis specified for availInternet attribute. Information indicating whetherthe broadcast related app is distributed via broadcasting or not isspecified for availBroadcast attribute.

URL, from which the broadcast related app is obtained, is specified forURL element. For example, URL of the application server is specified forURL element. Note that a relative path on the basis of theabove-mentioned base URL may be specified when the base URL isspecified.

URL element is a parent element of entry attribute. Informationindicating whether URL is entered or not is specified for entryattribute. For example, a file, which is necessary to obtain first, suchas index.html is entered when URLs are specified for URL element. Thenit is possible to obtain resource related thereto collectively.

Information indicating a function required for the receiver apparatus toexecute the broadcast related app is specified for Capabilities element.In other words, when the receiver apparatus has the function specifiedby Capabilities element, the receiver apparatus determines that thereceiver apparatus is capable of executing the broadcast related app.

Information indicating the range of URL that the broadcast related appis operable is specified for ApplicationBoundary element.ApplicationBoundary element is a parent element of OriginURL element. AURL that the broadcast related app is operable is specified forOriginURL element.

ContentItem element is a child element of Application element.Information about cache of a file (for example, HTML file and JPEG file)of the broadcast related app is described in ContentItem element.ContentItem element is a parent element of URL element, updatesAvailelement, pollPeriod attribute, size attribute, availlnternet attribute,and availBroadcast attribute.

URL of a file to be cached is specified for URL attribute. URL elementis a parent element of entry attribute. Information indicating whetherURL is entered or not is specified for entry attribute. Informationabout update of the file to be cached is specified for updatesAvailattribute. The time indicating the interval of making an inquiry to aserver about a file to be cached is specified for pollPeriod attribute.

Information indicating the size of the file to be cached is specifiedfor size attribute. Information indicating whether the file to be cachedis distributed via the Internet or not is specified for availlnternetattribute. Information indicating whether the file to be cached isdistributed via broadcasting or not is specified for availBroadcastattribute.

Event element is a child element of Application element. Eventinformation for controlling the operations of the broadcast related appis described in Event element. Event element is a parent element ofeventId attribute, action attribute, destination attribute, diffusionattribute, and Data element.

Event ID for identifying an event is specified for eventId attribute. Acommand specified by event ID such as “prep”, “exec”, “susp”, or “kill”is specified for action attribute.

Prepare command (“prep”: prepare command) is a command to instructobtain or register the broadcast related app. Herein, to register thebroadcast related app means to record the priority and the expire datein relation to the obtained broadcast related app.

Execute command (“exec”: execute command) is a command to instruct toobtain or activate the broadcast related app. Further, execute commandis a command to resume execution of the broadcast related app when thespecified broadcast related app is suspended.

Suspend command (“susp”: suspend command) is a command to stop andsuspend the broadcast related app being executed. Kill command (“kill”:kill command) is a command to terminate the broadcast related app beingexecuted.

An event-target apparatus that controls the broadcast related app isspecified for destination attribute. Herein, an external apparatus isspecified as an event-target apparatus instead of the receiver apparatuswhen the external apparatus is connected to the receiver apparatus, forexample.

Information for stochastically diffusing timing, at which a receiverapparatus applies an event, is specified for diffusion attribute. Sincethe information is set, receiver apparatuses access the applicationserver to obtain the broadcast related app not at a time but in adiffused manner.

Data referred to when applying an event is specified for Data element.Data element is a parent element of dataID attribute. Data ID foridentifying data is specified for dataID attribute.

Note that the TPT syntax for the broadcast related app of FIG. 6 ismerely an example, and elements and attributes may be added and deleteddepending on the operations. For example, independent attribute may beadded to TPT element, and information indicating whether TPT is forbroadcast related app or for broadcast independent application(broadcast independent app) (described later) may be specified forindependent attribute. In this case, for example, “0” is specified forthe TPT of FIG. 6 for the broadcast related app.

Further, in FIG. 6, with respect to the frequency of occurrence(Cardinality), one element or attribute is always specified when “1” isspecified, and the element or attribute is specified arbitrarily when “0. . . 1” is specified. Further, one or more elements or attributes arespecified when “1 . . . N” is specified, and one or more elements orattributes are specified arbitrarily when “0 . . . N” is specified. Thedefinitions of the frequency of occurrence is similar in other syntaxes(described later).

Hereinabove, the broadcast related application (broadcast related app)executed by the receiver apparatus capable of at least receiving digitalbroadcasting signals has been described.

2. Broadcast Independent Application

Broadcast independent application is an application obtained in anenvironment, which is different from a broadcast service in which abroadcasting station provides apps via broadcast waves, such asdistribution via the Internet, for example. Herein, the broadcastindependent application executed by a receiver apparatus capable of notonly receiving digital broadcasting signals but also receivingapplications distributed via the Internet will be described.

Note that the broadcast independent application contains, for example,files and the like. In the following description, the broadcastindependent application will be referred to as “broadcast independentapp”. Further, Broadcast Independent Application will be sometimesabbreviated to “Broadcast Independent App”.

(Transition of the Screen of the Broadcast Independent App)

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing transition of the screen of the broadcastindependent app.

FIG. 7 shows, in addition to the “broadcast full screen”, i.e., a screenon which only AV content is reproduced, the “app+broadcast screen”,i.e., a screen on which AV content is reproduced and the broadcastindependent app is executed at the same time, the “portal screen”, the“app screen”, and the “app-only display screen”.

Here, the “portal screen” is a screen on which a portal site capable ofproviding the broadcast independent app such as an application store,for example, is displayed. The “app screen” is a screen on which thebroadcast independent app is executed. The “app-only display screen” isa screen on which only the broadcast independent app is displayedwithout an image of AV content being displayed.

When the receiver apparatus is powered on and is instructed to displaythe “portal screen”, the receiver apparatus displays the “portalscreen”. Further, when a user selects an icon displayed on the “portalscreen” to instruct to activate the desired broadcast independent appApp1, the receiver apparatus displays the “app screen” corresponding tothe selected broadcast independent app App1.

Further, when the broadcast program of the channel X is selected in thebroadcast independent app App1 being executed, the receiver apparatusdetermines whether use of the selected broadcast program of the channelX is permitted or not. In other words, when the broadcast independentapp obtained in an environment, which is different from a broadcastservice in which a broadcasting station provides apps via broadcastwaves, is going to use broadcast resources provided in the broadcastservice, it is determined whether use of the broadcast resource ispermitted or not in the determining process.

When use of the broadcast program of the channel X by the broadcastindependent app App1 is permitted, the screen of the receiver apparatusmakes a transition from the “app screen” to the “app+broadcast screen1”. The “app+broadcast screen 1” is an L-style screen, in which theimage of the broadcast program of the channel X is zoomed out andinformation on the broadcast independent app App1 is displayed on themargin. In other words, the image of the broadcast program of thechannel X is displayed on the sub-screen.

Note that the broadcast independent app, which is permitted to usebroadcast resources, is, in other words, the broadcast related app,which is permitted to continue the operations by a broadcaster whoprovides AV content such as broadcast programs. After that, thebroadcast independent app may operate as the broadcast related app.

Here, when a user switches the channel from X to Y while the“app+broadcast screen 1” is displayed, it is determined whether use ofthe broadcast program of the channel Y after switching by the broadcastindependent app App1 is permitted or not. When use of the broadcastprogram of the channel Y by the broadcast independent app App1 ispermitted, the screen of the receiver apparatus makes a transition fromthe “app+broadcast screen 1” to the “app+broadcast screen 2”. The imagedisplayed on the sub screen of the screen is switched from the image ofthe broadcast program of the channel X to the image of the broadcastprogram of the channel Y. In other words, the image of the broadcastprogram of the channel Y is displayed on the sub screen.

As described above, when use of broadcast resources by the broadcastindependent app is permitted, the screen makes a transition to the“app+broadcast screen” and the broadcast independent app and the imageof the broadcast resources are displayed together since the broadcastindependent app can coexist with broadcast resources. To the contrary,when use of broadcast resources by the broadcast independent app is notpermitted, the screen-before-transition makes a transition to the“app-only display screen” or the “broadcast full screen”. In thefollowing description, transition from the screen-before-transition tothe “app-only display screen” will be referred to as “Case A”, andtransition from the screen-before-transition to the “broadcast fullscreen” will be referred to as “Case B”.

In FIG. 7, when the broadcast program of the channel X is selected bythe broadcast independent app App1 with the “app screen” being displayedand when use of the broadcast program of the channel X by the broadcastindependent app App1 is not permitted, the screen of the receiverapparatus makes a transition from the “app screen” to the “app-onlydisplay screen” or the “broadcast full screen 1”.

Here, when the screen of the receiver apparatus makes a transition fromthe “app screen” to the “app-only display screen”, i.e., in the Case Aof FIG. 7, information on the broadcast independent app App1 isdisplayed and a message indicating that the image of the broadcastprogram of the channel X cannot be displayed is displayed instead of theimage of the broadcast program of the channel X to be displayed on thesub screen in the L-style “app-only display screen”. As described above,in the “app-only display screen” displayed when use of broadcastresources by the broadcast independent app is not permitted, thebroadcast independent app does not coexist with the broadcast resources,and use of broadcast resources is limited.

Note that, in the description with reference to FIG. 7, the “app-onlydisplay screen” is an L-style screen. Alternative display modes such asa C-style screen, a U-style screen, and an overlay display screen may beemployed, for example, as long as the screen is capable of informing auser that broadcast resources cannot be used without displaying theimage of the broadcast resources.

Further, when the screen of the receiver apparatus makes a transitionfrom the “app screen” to the “broadcast full screen 1”, i.e., in theCase B of FIG. 7, the image of the broadcast program of the channel X isdisplayed in the normal size in the “broadcast full screen”, and thebroadcast independent app App1 is terminated. As described above, in the“broadcast full screen” displayed when use of broadcast resources by thebroadcast independent app is not permitted, the broadcast independentapp does not coexist with broadcast resources, and use of broadcastresources is limited.

Similarly, when the broadcast program of the channel Y is selected bythe broadcast independent app App1 with the “app+broadcast screen 1”being displayed and when use of the broadcast program of the channel Yby the broadcast independent app App1 is not permitted, the screen ofthe receiver apparatus makes a transition from the “app+broadcast screen1” to the “app-only display screen” or the “broadcast full screen 1”.

Here, when the screen of the receiver apparatus makes a transition fromthe “app+broadcast screen 1” to the “app-only display screen”, i.e., inthe Case A of FIG. 7, information on the broadcast independent app App1is displayed and a message indicating that the image of the broadcastprogram of the channel Y cannot be displayed is displayed instead of theimage of the broadcast program of the channel Y to be displayed on thesub screen in the L-style “app-only display screen”.

Further, when the screen of the receiver apparatus makes a transitionfrom the “app+broadcast screen 1” to the “broadcast full screen 1”,i.e., in the Case B of FIG. 7, the image of the broadcast program of thechannel X is displayed in the normal size in the “broadcast full screen1”, and the broadcast independent app App1 is terminated. Note that thescreen may make a transition to not the “broadcast full screen 1” butthe “broadcast full screen 2” in this case, and the image of thebroadcast program of the channel Y may be displayed in the normal size.

As described above, in the “app-only display screen” or the “broadcastfull screen” displayed when use of broadcast resources by the broadcastindependent app is not permitted, the broadcast independent app does notcoexist with broadcast resources, and use of broadcast resources islimited.

Note that, when the receiver apparatus is instructed to terminate thebroadcast related app App1 with the “app+broadcast screen 2” beingdisplayed, the receiver apparatus terminates the broadcast related appApp1 and the screen makes a transition from the “app+broadcast screen 2”to the “portal screen” or the “broadcast full screen 2”. Further, whenthe receiver apparatus is instructed to terminate the broadcast relatedapp App1 with the “app-only display screen” being displayed, thereceiver apparatus terminates the broadcast related app App1 and thescreen makes a transition from the “app-only display screen” to the“portal screen” or the “broadcast full screen 1”. Note that the screenmay make a transition to not the “broadcast full screen 1” but the“broadcast full screen 2” in this case.

According to the above-mentioned screen transition, when broadcastresources are to be used by the broadcast independent app and thebroadcast independent app cannot coexist with the broadcast resources,use of the broadcast resources by the predetermined broadcastindependent app can be limited.

For example, when social networking service (SNS) application isactivated as the broadcast independent app and use of broadcastresources by the application is not permitted, the “app-only displayscreen” of the Case A is displayed and thereby the social networkingservice application can be displayed with higher priority.

Further, for example, when application that supports to watch AV contentis activated as the broadcast independent app and use of the broadcastresource by the application is not permitted, the “broadcast fullscreen” of the Case B is displayed and thereby AV content is displayedwith higher priority.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment and a second embodiment will bedescribed in order as embodiments to realize the screen transition ofFIG. 7.

(1) First Embodiment

(Processing Flow of Entire System)

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the processing flow of the entire system ofthe first embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows the processing flow executed by the receiver apparatus, thetransmitting apparatus of the broadcasting station, the TPT server, andthe application server.

The receiver apparatus displays the “portal screen” (FIG. 7) (S11), anda user selects the broadcast independent app on the “portal screen”(S12). Then, when the broadcast independent app is selected, thereceiver apparatus accesses the TPT server, and obtains and analyzes theTPT for broadcast independent app (S13, S14).

The receiver apparatus accesses the application server on the basis ofthe TPT for broadcast independent app, and obtains and activates thebroadcast independent app (S15). As a result, the receiver apparatusdisplays the “app screen” (FIG. 7). Further, when a broadcast service(for example, broadcast program) is selected by the broadcastindependent app being executed, the receiver apparatus obtains andanalyzes trigger information transmitted via a broadcast stream (S17,S18).

The receiver apparatus accesses the TPT server on the basis of thetrigger information, and obtains and analyzes the TPT for broadcastrelated app (S19, S20). Further, the receiver apparatus performsoperation-continuance permissibility determining process. In theoperation-continuance permissibility determining process, the receiverapparatus compares the content described in the TPT for broadcastindependent app (obtained and analyzed in S13, S14) with the contentdescribed in the TPT for broadcast related app (obtained and analyzed inS19, S20), and thereby determines whether continuation of the operationusing broadcast resources by the broadcast independent app is permittedor not (S21).

Specifically, use of broadcast resources by the broadcast independentapp is permitted when the broadcast related app is described in the TPTfor broadcast related app, where the global ID value of the broadcastrelated app is the same as the global ID value of the broadcastindependent app that selects a broadcast service, where the value of aURL (where entry=“true”) from which the broadcast related app isobtained is the same as the value of a URL from which the broadcastindependent app is obtained, and where execute command (“exec”) isspecified for an event of the broadcast related app at this time.

When use of broadcast resources by the broadcast independent app ispermitted and continuation of the operation of the broadcast independentapp is permitted in the determining process of Step S21, the receiverapparatus displays the “app+broadcast screen” (FIG. 7). Note that theabove-mentioned broadcast independent app, which is permitted tocontinue the operations on the basis of the TPT for broadcast relatedapp, is, in other words, the broadcast related app, which is permittedto continue the operations by a broadcasting station (broadcaster). So,after that, the broadcast independent app will operate as the broadcastrelated app.

Further, when use of broadcast resources by the broadcast independentapp is not permitted because the above-mentioned conditions are notsatisfied, the receiver apparatus displays the “app-only display screen”(FIG. 7) of the Case A or the “broadcast full screen” (FIG. 7) of theCase B on the basis of context attribute (see FIG. 11 or FIG. 12(described later)) of Application element described in the TPT forbroadcast independent app.

As described above, in the first embodiment, when broadcast resourcesare to be used by the broadcast independent app, the content describedin the TPT for broadcast independent app is checked against the contentdescribed in the TPT for broadcast related app. Then, depending on thecheck result, the “app+broadcast screen” (FIG. 7) is displayed when useof broadcast resources is permitted, and the “app-only display screen”(FIG. 7) or the “broadcast full screen” (FIG. 7) is displayed when useof broadcast resources is not permitted.

As a result, broadcast resources cannot be used when use of broadcastresources by the broadcast independent app is not permitted. So it ispossible to limit use of broadcast resources by the predeterminedbroadcast independent app.

(Status Transition of Receiver Apparatus)

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the status transition of the receiverapparatus that executes the broadcast independent app. As shown in FIG.9, it is defined that the receiver apparatus makes a transition to the“terminal operation stop” status, the “broadcast reception (AV-onlyreproduction)” status, the “broadcast reception (AVreproduction+broadcast related app execution)” status, the “portaldisplay” status, or the “broadcast independent app execution” status.

The “terminal operation stop” status means that the receiver apparatusis powered off. The “broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” statusmeans that only AV content such as a broadcast program is reproduced.The receiver apparatus, which has made a transition to this status,displays the “broadcast full screen” (FIG. 7).

The “broadcast reception (AV reproduction+broadcast related appexecution)” status means that AV content is reproduced and the broadcastrelated app (broadcast independent app) is executed at the same time. Inother words, this status includes not only a case where the broadcastrelated app is activated directly but also a case where the broadcastindependent app operates substantially as the broadcast related app whenthe broadcast independent app uses broadcast resources and continuationof the operation is permitted on the basis of the TPT for broadcastrelated app. The receiver apparatus, which has made a transition to thisstatus, displays the “app+broadcast screen” (FIG. 7).

The “portal display” status means that a portal site on which thebroadcast independent app can be selected is displayed. The receiverapparatus, which has made a transition to this status, displays the“portal screen” (FIG. 7). The “broadcast independent app execution”status means that the broadcast independent app is executed, or meansthat use of AV content is limited and only the broadcast independent appis executed. The receiver apparatus, which has made a transition to thisstatus, displays the “app screen” or the “app-only display screen” (FIG.7).

When the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the “terminaloperation stop” status and is powered on, the status makes a transitionto the “broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status. Further,when the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the “broadcastreception (AV-only reproduction)” status and the broadcast related appis activated, the status makes a transition to the “broadcast reception(AV reproduction+broadcast related app execution)” status. Note that,when the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the “broadcastreception (AV-only reproduction)” status and is powered off, the statusmakes a transition to the “terminal operation stop” status.

When the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the “broadcastreception (AV reproduction+broadcast related app execution)” status andexecution of the broadcast related app is terminated, the status makes atransition to the “broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status.Note that, when the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the“broadcast reception (AV reproduction+broadcast related app execution)”status and is powered off, the status makes a transition to the“terminal operation stop” status.

Further, when the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the“broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status and to display the“portal screen” (FIG. 7) is selected, the status makes a transition tothe “portal display” status. When the receiver apparatus has made atransition to the “portal display” status and the broadcast independentapp is activated, the status makes a transition to the “broadcastindependent app execution” status. Note that, when the receiverapparatus has made a transition to the “portal display” status and todisplay broadcasting is selected, the status makes a transition to the“broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status. When the receiverapparatus is powered off, the status makes a transition to the “terminaloperation stop” status.

When the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the “broadcastindependent app execution” status and the broadcast independent appexecutes the API (Application Programming Interface) for selectingbroadcasting to use broadcast resources, the status makes a transitionto the “broadcast reception (AV reproduction+broadcast related appexecution)” status. In other words, in this case, theoperation-continuance permissibility determining process of thebroadcast independent app is executed by using the TPT for broadcastrelated app. When continuation of the operation is permitted, the“broadcast reception (AV reproduction+broadcast related app execution)”status is remained, and the broadcast independent app continues theoperations as if it is the broadcast related app.

To the contrary, when continuation of the operation is not permitted inthe operation-continuance permissibility determining process, the statusmakes a transition to the “broadcast independent app execution” statusor the “broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status. In otherwords, in this case, use of broadcast resources by the broadcastindependent app is not permitted. So, in the Case A, the receiverapparatus makes a transition to the “broadcast independent appexecution” status, and displays the “app-only display screen” (FIG. 7).Further, in the Case B, the receiver apparatus makes a transition to the“broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status, and displays the“broadcast full screen” (FIG. 7).

Note that, when the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the“broadcast independent app execution” status and the broadcastindependent app is terminated, the status makes a transition to the“portal display” status. Further, when the receiver apparatus has made atransition to the “broadcast independent app execution” status and ispowered off, the status makes a transition to the “terminal operationstop” status.

(Operations of Receiver Apparatus)

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing operations of the receiver apparatus thatexecutes the broadcast independent app.

In FIG. 10, when the receiver apparatus is instructed to display aportal site, the receiver apparatus accesses the portal server via thenetwork, and requests a web page of the portal site (S31). In responseto the request from the receiver apparatus, the portal server transmitsthe web page of the portal site to the receiver apparatus via thenetwork (S32). The receiver apparatus displays the web page of theportal site received from the portal server.

When the broadcast independent app is selected on the portal site, thereceiver apparatus accesses the TPT server via the network, and requeststhe TPT for broadcast independent app (S33). In response to the requestfrom the receiver apparatus, the TPT server transmits the TPT forbroadcast independent app (“TPT” of FIG. 10) to the receiver apparatusvia the network (S34). The receiver apparatus receives and holds the TPTfor broadcast independent app transmitted from the TPT server.

Further, the receiver apparatus accesses the application server via thenetwork on the basis of the TPT for broadcast independent app, andrequests the broadcast independent app (S35). In response to the requestfrom the receiver apparatus, the application server transmits thebroadcast independent app (“App” of FIG. 10) to the receiver apparatusvia the network (S36). The receiver apparatus receives and activates thebroadcast independent app transmitted from the application server.

Here, when a broadcast service (for example, broadcast program) isselected by the broadcast independent app being executed, the receiverapparatus obtains trigger information (“Trigger” of FIG. 10), which istransmitted together with AV content (“Content” of FIG. 10) by thetransmitting apparatus of the broadcasting station (S37).

The receiver apparatus accesses the TPT server via the network on thebasis of the trigger information, and requests the TPT for broadcastrelated app (S38). In response to the request from the receiverapparatus, the TPT server transmits the TPT for broadcast related app(“TPT” of FIG. 10) to the receiver apparatus via the network (S39). Thereceiver apparatus receives and obtains the TPT for broadcast relatedapp transmitted from the TPT server.

Further, the receiver apparatus performs the operation-continuancepermissibility determining process to determine whether continuation ofthe operation using broadcast resources by the broadcast independent appis permitted or not on the basis of the TPT for broadcast independentapp and the TPT for broadcast related app.

When use of broadcast resources by the broadcast independent app ispermitted in the operation-continuance permissibility determiningprocess, the receiver apparatus makes a transition to the “broadcastreception (AV reproduction+broadcast related app execution)” status ofFIG. 9, and the broadcast independent app continues the operations asthe broadcast related app. In this case, the receiver apparatus displaysthe “app+broadcast screen” (FIG. 7).

To the contrary, when use of broadcast resources by the broadcastindependent app is not permitted, the receiver apparatus makes atransition to the “broadcast independent app execution” status of FIG. 9or the “broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status of FIG. 9,and displays the “app-only display screen” (FIG. 7) in the Case A or the“broadcast full screen” (FIG. 7) in the Case B.

Note that, in the description with reference to FIG. 10, forconvenience, the common TPT server provides the TPT for broadcastindependent app and the TPT for broadcast related app. However,actually, the TPT for broadcast related app may be provided by abroadcaster, and the TPT for broadcast independent app may be providedby a service provider such as a third party different from thebroadcaster. So those TPTs may be provided by different TPT servers.

(Description Example of TPT for Broadcast Independent App)

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a description example of the TPT forbroadcast independent app.

In FIG. 11, “abc.tv/300” is specified for id attribute of tpt element,and “1” is specified for tptVersion attribute. Further, “1” is specifiedfor independent attribute of tpt element, and it means that the TPT ofFIG. 11 is the TPT for broadcast independent app.

One Application element is described in tpt element. Application ID=“1”is specified by appID attribute and global ID=“abc.tv/100” is specifiedby globalID attribute for the broadcast independent app of Applicationelement. Further, “app” specified for context attribute means that thereceiver apparatus continues the operations of the broadcast independentapp and displays the “app-only display screen” (FIG. 7) of the Case Awhen use of broadcast resources by the broadcast independent app is notpermitted.

Further, URL element is described in Application element, and“http://abc.com/app1” is specified as URL, from which the broadcastindependent app is obtained. Further, “true” specified for entryattribute of the URL element means that this URL is entered.

(TPT Syntax for Broadcast Independent App)

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a TPT syntax for thebroadcast independent app. The TPT of FIG. 12 is described in a markuplanguage such as XML, for example.

In FIG. 12, TPT element is described as a root element of TPT. In TPTelement, information for obtaining the broadcast independent app isdescribed.

TPT element is a parent element of majorProtocolVersion attribute,minorProtocolVersion attribute, id attribute, independent attribute,tptVersion attribute, expireDate attribute, baseURL attribute,Capabilities element, and Application element.

Information indicating the major version of the spec defined in the TPTis specified for majorProtocolVersion attribute. Information indicatingthe minor version of the spec defined in the TPT is specified forminorProtocolVersion attribute. ID for identifying the TPT is specifiedfor id attribute.

Information indicating whether TPT is for broadcast related app or forbroadcast independent app is specified for independent attribute. “1” isspecified since TPT of FIG. 12 is for the broadcast independent app.

Information indicating the version of the TPT is specified fortptVersion attribute. Information indicating the expire date of the TPTis specified for expireDate attribute. URL, which is the base of URLspecified in the TPT, is specified for baseURL attribute. So a relativepath on the basis of the base URL may be specified for each of the otherURLs specified in the TPT.

Information indicating a function, which is required for the receiverapparatus when using the TPT, is specified for Capabilities element. Inother words, when the receiver apparatus has the function specified byCapabilities element, the receiver apparatus determines that thereceiver apparatus is capable of using the TPT.

Application element is a child element of TPT element. Information aboutthe broadcast independent app is described in Application element.Application element is a parent element of appID attribute, appTypeattribute, appName attribute, globalId attribute, appVersion attribute,cookieSpace attribute, expireDate attribute, context attribute, URLelement, ApplicationBoundary element, and ContentItem element.

Application ID for identifying the broadcast independent app isspecified for appID attribute. Information about a file attribute andthe like of the broadcast independent app is specified for appTypeattribute. Information indicating the name of the broadcast independentapp is specified for appName attribute.

A global ID globally-identifiable the broadcast independent app isspecified for globalId attribute. Global ID is specified by using URI,for example. Information indicating the version of the broadcastindependent app is specified for appVersion attribute. Informationindicating the storage volume necessary to execute the broadcastindependent app is specified for cookieSpace attribute. Informationindicating the expire date of the broadcast independent app is specifiedfor expireDate attribute.

Information indicating whether to continue the operations of thebroadcast independent app or not when use of broadcast resources by thebroadcast independent app is not permitted is specified for contextattribute. For example, when “app” is specified for context attribute,the operations of the broadcast independent app is continued and the“app-only display screen” (FIG. 7) of the Case A is displayed. Further,when “broadcast” is specified for context attribute, the broadcastindependent app is terminated and the “broadcast full screen” (FIG. 7)of the Case B is displayed.

URL, from which the broadcast independent app is obtained, is specifiedfor URL element. For example, URL of the application server is specifiedfor URL element. URL element is a parent element of entry attribute.Information indicating whether URL is entered or not is specified forentry attribute. For example, a file, which is necessary to obtainfirst, such as index.html is entered when URLs are specified for URLelement. Then it is possible to obtain resource related theretocollectively.

Information indicating the range of URL that the broadcast independentapp is operable is specified for ApplicationBoundary element.ApplicationBoundary element is a parent element of OriginalURL element.A URL that the broadcast independent app is operable is specified forOriginalURL element.

Information about cache of a file (for example, HTML file and JPEG file)of the broadcast independent app is described in ContentItem element.ContentItem element is a parent element of URL element and sizeattribute. URL of a file to be cached is specified for URL attribute.URL element is a parent element of entry attribute. Informationindicating whether URL is entered or not is specified for entryattribute. Information indicating the size of the file to be cached isspecified for size attribute.

Note that the TPT syntax for the broadcast independent app of FIG. 12 ismerely an example, and elements and attributes may be added and deleteddepending on the operations.

Further, comparing the TPT for broadcast independent app of FIG. 12 withthe TPT for broadcast related app of FIG. 6, the TPT for broadcastindependent app is a subset of the TPT for broadcast related app whereindependent attribute and context attribute of Application element areadded to the TPT for broadcast independent app. Further, only oneApplication element is described since the TPT for broadcast independentapp of FIG. 12 is the TPT for the predetermined broadcast independentapp. In addition, description of an event is omitted since only anexecute command (“exec”) is prepared as a command.

(2) Second Embodiment

(Processing Flow of Entire System)

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the processing flow of the entire system ofthe second embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows the processing flow executed by the receiver apparatus,the transmitting apparatus of the broadcasting station, the TPT server,and the application server.

The receiver apparatus displays the “portal screen” (FIG. 7) (S41), anda user selects the broadcast independent app on the “portal screen”(S42). Then, when the broadcast independent app is selected, thereceiver apparatus accesses the TPT server, and obtains the TPT forbroadcast independent app (S43).

The receiver apparatus holds a broadcasting station public keycertificate in advance, and verifies the electronic signature describedin the TPT for broadcast independent app by using the broadcastingstation public key certificate (S44). When the receiver apparatusverified the electronic signature in Step S44, the receiver apparatusaccesses the application server on the basis of the TPT for broadcastindependent app, and obtains and activates the broadcast independent app(S45). As a result, the receiver apparatus displays the “app screen”(FIG. 7).

After that, when the broadcast independent app being executed requeststo access broadcast resources, e.g., to select a broadcast service,(S46), the receiver apparatus performs accessibility determiningprocess. In the accessibility determining process, the receiverapparatus determines whether to permit use of broadcast resources by thebroadcast independent app or not on the basis of the TPT for broadcastindependent app (S47).

Specifically, the accessibility determining process is performed asfollows. For example, access authority (hereinafter sometimes referredto as “broadcast permission information”.) is described for eachbroadcasting station (broadcast service) in the TPT for broadcastindependent app. On the basis of the description, it is determinedwhether the broadcast independent app that selects a broadcast servicehas authority to access a broadcast service, of which selection isinstructed, or not.

When it is determined that the broadcast independent app has authorityto access a broadcast service in the determining process of Step S47,use of broadcast resources by the broadcast independent app ispermitted, and the receiver apparatus displays the “app+broadcastscreen” (FIG. 7).

Further, when it is determined that the broadcast independent app doesnot have authority to access a broadcast service in the determiningprocess of Step S47, use of broadcast resources by the broadcastindependent app is not permitted. In this case, the receiver apparatusdisplays the “app-only display screen” (FIG. 7) of the Case A or the“broadcast full screen” (FIG. 7) of the Case B on the basis of contextattribute (see FIG. 16 or FIG. 17 (described later)) of Applicationelement described in the TPT for broadcast independent app.

As described above, in the second embodiment, when broadcast resourcesare to be used by the broadcast independent app, it is determinedwhether the broadcast independent app has authority to access abroadcast service or not by using broadcast permission informationdescribed in the TPT for broadcast independent app. Further, the“app+broadcast screen” (FIG. 7) is displayed when the broadcastindependent app has authority to access broadcast resources, and the“app-only display screen” (FIG. 7) or the “broadcast full screen” (FIG.7) is displayed when the broadcast independent app does not haveauthority to access broadcast resources.

As a result, broadcast resources cannot be used when the broadcastindependent app does not have authority to access broadcast resources.So it is possible to limit use of broadcast resources by thepredetermined broadcast independent app.

(Status Transition of Receiver Apparatus)

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the status transition of the receiverapparatus that executes the broadcast independent app. As shown in FIG.14, it is defined that the receiver apparatus makes a transition to the“terminal operation stop” status, the “broadcast reception (AV-onlyreproduction)” status, the “broadcast reception (AVreproduction+broadcast related app execution)” status, the “portaldisplay” status, the “broadcast independent app execution” status, orthe “broadcast reception (AV reproduction+broadcast independent appexecution)” status.

The “terminal operation stop” status means that the receiver apparatusis powered off. The “broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” statusmeans that only AV content such as a broadcast program is reproduced.The receiver apparatus, which has made a transition to this status,displays the “broadcast full screen” (FIG. 7). The “broadcast reception(AV reproduction+broadcast related app execution)” status means that AVcontent is reproduced and the broadcast related app is executed at thesame time. The receiver apparatus, which has made a transition to thisstatus, displays the “app+broadcast screen” (FIG. 7).

The “portal display” status means that a portal site on which thebroadcast independent app can be selected is displayed. The receiverapparatus, which has made a transition to this status, displays the“portal screen” (FIG. 7).

The “broadcast independent app execution” status means that thebroadcast independent app is executed, or means that use of AV contentis limited and only the broadcast independent app is executed. Thereceiver apparatus, which has made a transition to this status, displaysthe “app screen” or the “app-only display screen” (FIG. 7).

The “broadcast reception (AV reproduction+broadcast independent appexecution)” status means that AV content is reproduced and the broadcastindependent app is executed at the same time. The receiver apparatus,which has made a transition to this status, displays the “app+broadcastscreen” (FIG. 7).

When the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the “terminaloperation stop” status and is powered on, the status makes a transitionto the “broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status. Further,when the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the “broadcastreception (AV-only reproduction)” status and the broadcast related appis activated, the status makes a transition to the “broadcast reception(AV reproduction+broadcast related app execution)” status. Further, whenthe receiver apparatus has made a transition to the “broadcast reception(AV reproduction+broadcast related app execution)” status and executionof the broadcast related app is terminated, the status makes atransition to the “broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status.

Note that, when the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the“broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status or the “broadcastreception (AV reproduction+broadcast related app execution)” status andis powered off, the status makes a transition to the “terminal operationstop” status.

Further, when the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the“broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status and to display the“portal screen” (FIG. 7) is selected, the status makes a transition tothe “portal display” status. When the receiver apparatus has made atransition to the “portal display” status and the broadcast independentapp is activated, the status makes a transition to the “broadcastindependent app execution” status. Note that, when the receiverapparatus has made a transition to the “portal display” status and todisplay broadcasting is selected, the status makes a transition to the“broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status. When the receiverapparatus is powered off, the status makes a transition to the “terminaloperation stop” status.

When the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the “broadcastindependent app execution” status and the API for selecting broadcastingis executed to use broadcast resources, the status makes a transition tothe “broadcast reception (AV reproduction+broadcast independent appexecution)” status. In other words, in this case, the determiningprocess of accessibility to broadcast resources by the broadcastindependent app is executed by using the TPT for broadcast independentapp. When the broadcast independent app has access authority, the“broadcast reception (AV reproduction+broadcast independent appexecution)” status is remained, and the broadcast independent appcontinues the operations.

To the contrary, when the broadcast independent app does not have accessauthority in the accessibility determining process, the status makes atransition to the “broadcast independent app execution” status or the“broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status. In other words, inthis case, use of broadcast resources by the broadcast independent appis not permitted. So, in the Case A, the receiver apparatus makes atransition to the “broadcast independent app execution” status, anddisplays the “app-only display screen” (FIG. 7). Further, in the Case B,the receiver apparatus makes a transition to the “broadcast reception(AV-only reproduction)” status, and displays the “broadcast full screen”(FIG. 7).

Note that, when the receiver apparatus has made a transition to the“broadcast independent app execution” status and the broadcastindependent app is terminated, the status makes a transition to the“portal display” status. Further, when the receiver apparatus has made atransition to the “broadcast independent app execution” status or the“broadcast reception (AV reproduction+broadcast independent appexecution)” status and is powered off, the status makes a transition tothe “terminal operation stop” status.

(Operations of Receiver Apparatus)

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing operations of the receiver apparatus thatexecutes the broadcast independent app.

In FIG. 15, when the receiver apparatus is instructed to display aportal site, the receiver apparatus accesses the portal server via thenetwork, and requests a web page of the portal site (S51). In responseto the request from the receiver apparatus, the portal server transmitsthe web page of the portal site to the receiver apparatus via thenetwork (S52). The receiver apparatus displays the web page of theportal site received from the portal server.

When the broadcast independent app is selected on the portal site, thereceiver apparatus accesses the TPT server via the network, and requeststhe TPT for broadcast independent app (S53). In response to the requestfrom the receiver apparatus, the TPT server transmits the TPT forbroadcast independent app (“TPT” of FIG. 15) to the receiver apparatusvia the network (S54). The receiver apparatus receives and holds the TPTfor broadcast independent app transmitted from the TPT server.

The receiver apparatus verifies the electronic signature described inthe TPT for broadcast independent app by using the broadcasting stationpublic key certificate that the receiver apparatus holds in advance.Then, when the receiver apparatus verified the electronic signature, thereceiver apparatus accesses the application server on the basis of theTPT for broadcast independent app, and requests the broadcastindependent app (S55). In response to the request from the receiverapparatus, the application server transmits the broadcast independentapp (“App” of FIG. 15) to the receiver apparatus via the network (S56).The receiver apparatus receives and activates the broadcast independentapp transmitted from the application server.

Here, when the broadcast independent app being executed requests toaccess broadcast resources, e.g., to select a broadcast service, thereceiver apparatus performs the accessibility determining process. Inthe accessibility determining process, the receiver apparatus determineswhether the broadcast independent app has authority to access broadcastresources, of which selection is instructed, or not on the basis of thebroadcast permission information described in the TPT for broadcastindependent app.

When authority to access broadcast resources by the broadcastindependent app is permitted in the accessibility determining process,the receiver apparatus makes a transition to the “broadcast reception(AV reproduction+broadcast independent app execution)” status of FIG.14, and displays the “app+broadcast screen” (FIG. 7). To the contrary,when authority to access broadcast resources by the broadcastindependent app is not permitted, the receiver apparatus makes atransition to the “broadcast independent app execution” status of FIG.14 or the “broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status of FIG.14, and displays the “app-only display screen” (FIG. 7) in the Case A orthe “broadcast full screen” (FIG. 7) in the Case B.

(Description Example of TPT for Broadcast Independent App)

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a description example of the TPT forbroadcast independent app.

In FIG. 16, “abc.tv/300” is specified for id attribute of tpt element,and “1” is specified for tptVersion attribute. Further, “1” is specifiedfor independent attribute of tpt element, and it means that the TPT ofFIG. 16 is the TPT for broadcast independent app.

Application element and Signature element are described in tpt element.Application ID=“1” is specified by appID attribute and globalID=“abc.tv/100” is specified by globalID attribute for the broadcastindependent app of Application element. Further, “app” specified forcontext attribute means that the receiver apparatus continues theoperations of the broadcast independent app and displays the “app-onlydisplay screen” (FIG. 7) of the Case A when authority to accessbroadcast resources by the broadcast independent app is not permitted.

BroadcastPermission element and URL element are described in Applicationelement. “8000” is specified for Permission element inBroadcastPermission element as authority to access each broadcastresource. So the receiver apparatus performs the accessibilitydetermining process by using the broadcast permission information. Inthe accessibility determining process, the receiver apparatus determineswhether independent app has authority to access a broadcast service of abroadcasting station whose RF channel ID is “128”.

“http://abc.com/app1” is specified for URL element as URL, from whichthe broadcast independent app is obtained. Further, “true” specified forentry attribute of the URL element means that this URL is entered.

An electronic signature is described in Signature element as signatureinformation. The electronic signature is used in the verificationprocess executed by the receiver apparatus, which has received TPT ofFIG. 16, by using the broadcasting station public key certificate.

(TPT Syntax for Broadcast Independent App)

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a TPT syntax for thebroadcast independent app. The TPT of FIG. 17 is described in a markuplanguage such as XML, for example.

In FIG. 17, TPT element is described as a root element of TPT. In TPTelement, in addition to information for obtaining the broadcastindependent app, information used in the verification process, theaccessibility determining process, and the like, and other informationare described.

TPT element is a parent element of majorProtocolVersion attribute,minorProtocolVersion attribute, id attribute, independent attribute,tptVersion attribute, expireDate attribute, baseURL attribute,Capabilities element, Application element, and Signature element.

Information indicating the major version of the spec defined in the TPTis specified for majorProtocolVersion attribute. Information indicatingthe minor version of the spec defined in the TPT is specified forminorProtocolVersion attribute. ID for identifying the TPT is specifiedfor id attribute.

Information indicating whether TPT is for broadcast related app or forbroadcast independent app is specified for independent attribute. “1” isspecified since TPT of FIG. 17 is for the broadcast independent app.

Information indicating the version of the TPT is specified fortptVersion attribute. Information indicating the expire date of the TPTis specified for expireDate attribute. URL, which is the base of URLspecified in the TPT, is specified for baseURL attribute. So a relativepath on the basis of the base URL may be specified for each of the otherURLs specified in the TPT.

Information indicating a function, which is required for the receiverapparatus when using the TPT, is specified for Capabilities element. Inother words, when the receiver apparatus has the function specified byCapabilities element, the receiver apparatus determines that thereceiver apparatus is capable of using the TPT.

Application element is a child element of TPT element. Information aboutthe broadcast independent app is described in Application element.Application element is a parent element of appID attribute, appTypeattribute, appName attribute, globalId attribute, appVersion attribute,cookieSpace attribute, expireDate attribute, context attribute,BroadcastPermission element, URL element, ApplicationBoundary element,and ContentItem element.

Application ID for identifying the broadcast independent app isspecified for appID attribute. Information about a file attribute andthe like of the broadcast independent app is specified for appTypeattribute. Information indicating the name of the broadcast independentapp is specified for appName attribute.

A global ID globally-identifiable the broadcast independent app isspecified for globalId attribute. Global ID is specified by using URI,for example. Information indicating the version of the broadcastindependent app is specified for appVersion attribute. Informationindicating the storage volume necessary to execute the broadcastindependent app is specified for cookieSpace attribute. Informationindicating the expire date of the broadcast independent app is specifiedfor expireDate attribute.

Information indicating whether to continue the operations of thebroadcast independent app or not when authority to access broadcastresources by the broadcast independent app is not permitted is specifiedfor context attribute. For example, when “app” is specified for contextattribute, the operations of the broadcast independent app is continuedand the “app-only display screen” (FIG. 7) of the Case A is displayed.Further, when “broadcast” is specified for context attribute, thebroadcast independent app is terminated and the “broadcast full screen”(FIG. 7) of the Case B is displayed.

Broadcast permission information is specified for BroadcastPermissionelement as authority to access each broadcast resource. Note thatcontent of BroadcastPermission element will be described later in moredetail with reference to FIG. 18.

URL, from which the broadcast independent app is obtained, is specifiedfor URL element. For example, URL of the application server is specifiedfor URL element. URL element is a parent element of entry attribute.Information indicating whether URL is entered or not is specified forentry attribute. For example, a file, which is necessary to obtainfirst, such as index.html is entered when URLs are specified for URLelement. Then it is possible to obtain resource related theretocollectively.

Information indicating the range of URL that the broadcast independentapp is operable is specified for ApplicationBoundary element.ApplicationBoundary element is a parent element of OriginalURL element.A URL that the broadcast independent app is operable is specified forOriginalURL element.

Information about cache of a file (for example, HTML file and JPEG file)of the broadcast independent app is described in ContentItem element.ContentItem element is a parent element of URL element and sizeattribute. URL of a file to be cached is specified for URL attribute.URL element is a parent element of entry attribute. Informationindicating whether URL is entered or not is specified for entryattribute. Information indicating the size of the file to be cached isspecified for size attribute.

Signature element is a child element of TPT element. An electronicsignature is described in Signature element as signature information.The electronic signature is used in the verification process executed bythe receiver apparatus, which has received TPT, by using thebroadcasting station public key certificate.

Note that the TPT syntax for the broadcast independent app of FIG. 17 ismerely an example, and elements and attributes may be added and deleteddepending on the operations.

Further, comparing the TPT for broadcast independent app of FIG. 17 withthe TPT for broadcast related app of FIG. 6, the TPT for broadcastindependent app is a subset of the TPT for broadcast related app whereindependent attribute, context attribute and BroadcastPermission elementof Application element, and Signature element are added to the TPT forbroadcast independent app. Further, only one Application element isdescribed since the TPT for broadcast independent app of FIG. 17 is theTPT for the predetermined broadcast independent app. In addition,description of an event is omitted since only an execute command(“exec”) is prepared as a command.

(Detailed Content of BroadcastPermission Element)

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the content of BroadcastPermission elementof FIG. 17 in detail.

Broadcast permission information is specified for BroadcastPermissionelement as authority to access each broadcast resource.BroadcastPermission element is a parent element of RFChannelIdattribute, BBPStreamId attribute, ServicelId attribute, and Permissionelement.

RF channel ID is specified for RFChannelId attribute. RF channel ID isassigned for each broadcaster (broadcasting station) in broadcast waveshaving a predetermined frequency band in digital broadcasting of the IP(Internet Protocol) transmission system. Further, BBP stream ID isspecified for BBPStreamId attribute. BBP stream ID is assigned to BBPstream (Base Band Packet Stream) transmitted via broadcast wavesidentified by RF channel ID. Service ID is specified for ServicelIdattribute. Service ID is assigned to each service including video andaudio data transmitted via BBP stream identified by BBP stream ID.

In other words, the ID system of the IP transmission system employs theconfiguration corresponding to the combination (hereinafter referred toas “triplet”.) of a network ID, a transport stream ID, a service ID usedin the MPEG2-TS (Moving Picture Expert Group 2—Transport Stream) system.The triplet indicates the BBP stream configuration and the serviceconfiguration of a broadcast network. Note that RF channel ID and BBPstream ID of the ID system of the IP transmission system correspond tonetwork ID and transport stream ID of the MPEG2-TS system.

Authority to access each broadcast resource specified by triplet isspecified for Permission element by using bitmap. For example, let's saythat, as shown in an assignment example of a permission bitmap of FIG.19, information indicating broadcast program image sub-screen referencepermissibility is assigned to the MSB (Most Significant Bit) bit out of16 bits. In this case, the specified RF channel ID=“128” means thatindependent app has access authority of broadcast program imagesub-screen display reference permissibility about a broadcast service ofa broadcasting station whose RF channel ID is “128”.

Therefore, in this case, when the broadcast independent app beingexecuted requests to access a broadcast service of a broadcastingstation whose RF channel ID is “128”, the receiver apparatus makes atransition to the “broadcast reception (AV reproduction+broadcastindependent app execution)” status of FIG. 14 and displays the“app+broadcast screen” (FIG. 7). In other words, the operations of thebroadcast independent app continue and an image of a broadcast programof the broadcasting station whose RF channel ID is “128” is displayed onthe sub screen of the “app+broadcast screen” (FIG. 7).

Note that access authority of broadcast program image sub-screen displayreference permissibility has been described with reference to theassignment example of a permission bitmap of FIG. 19. Alternatively, forexample, other access authority may be specified such as accessauthority of overlay display reference permissibility and accessauthority of electronic service guide (ESG) display referencepermissibility.

Hereinabove, the broadcast independent application (broadcastindependent app) executed by the receiver apparatus capable of not onlyreceiving digital broadcasting signals but also receiving applicationsdistributed via the Internet has been described.

3. System Configuration

(Configuration Example of Broadcast Communication System)

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the broadcastcommunication system. Note that the system means a group including aplurality of configuration elements (apparatuses and the like).

The broadcast communication system 1 of FIG. 20 has the configurationrealizing the above-mentioned first embodiment and second embodiment. Inother words, in FIG. 20, the broadcast communication system 1 includesthe transmission apparatus 10, the reception apparatus 20, the portalserver 30, the application server 40, the TPT server 50-1, and the TPTserver 50-2. Further, the reception apparatus 20 is connected to theportal server 30, the application server 40, the TPT server 50-1, andthe TPT server 50-2 via the network 90.

The transmission apparatus 10 transmits AV content such as broadcastprograms via digital broadcasting signals. Further, the transmissionapparatus 10 transmits trigger information for controlling theoperations of the broadcast related app, the trigger information beingcontained in the digital broadcasting signals. Note that the triggerinformation is inserted in video data or audio data of AV content or isin a stream transmitted via digital broadcasting signals, and is therebytransmitted.

Note that the transmission apparatus 10 corresponds to theabove-mentioned transmitting apparatus (for example, “Broadcaster” ofFIG. 10 and FIG. 15), is provided by a broadcaster, and is installed inthe broadcasting station. Further, the transmission apparatus 10 iscapable of transmitting a file of the broadcasting station public keycertificate in a FLUTE session.

The reception apparatus 20 receives digital broadcasting signalstransmitted from the transmission apparatus 10, and obtains and outputsimages and sounds of AV content.

The reception apparatus 20 accesses the portal server 30 via the network90, and obtains a web page of a portal site. The reception apparatus 20displays the portal site on the basis of the web page obtained from theportal server 30.

The reception apparatus 20 accesses the application server 40 via thenetwork 90, and obtains the broadcast independent app. The receptionapparatus 20 executes the broadcast independent app obtained from theapplication server 40.

The reception apparatus 20 accesses the TPT server 50-1 via the network90, and obtains the TPT for broadcast independent app. Further, thereception apparatus 20 accesses the TPT server 50-2 via the network 90,and obtains the TPT for broadcast related app. The reception apparatus20 controls the operations of the broadcast independent app on the basisof the TPT for broadcast independent app obtained from the TPT server50-1 or the TPT for broadcast related app obtained from the TPT server50-2.

Note that the reception apparatus 20 corresponds to the above-mentionedreceiver apparatus (for example, “Receiver (TV)” of FIG. 10 and FIG.15), and is installed in a home or the like. Further, the receptionapparatus 20 may not be a television receiver. Alternatively, thereception apparatus 20 may not have a display or a speaker and may bebuilt in an electronic apparatus such as a video recorder.

In response to the request from the reception apparatus 20, the portalserver 30 provides the web page of the portal site to the receptionapparatus 20 via the network 90. Note that the portal server 30corresponds to the above-mentioned portal server (for example, “PortalServer” of FIG. 10 and FIG. 15).

In response to the request from the reception apparatus 20, theapplication server 40 provides the broadcast independent app to thereception apparatus 20 via the network 90. Note that the transmissionapparatus 10 corresponds to the above-mentioned application server (forexample, “App Server” of FIG. 10 and FIG. 15), and is provided by anapplication creator, a broadcaster, or another service provider.

In response to the request from the reception apparatus 20, the TPTserver 50-1 provides the TPT for broadcast independent app to thereception apparatus 20 via the network 90. Further, in response to therequest from the reception apparatus 20, the TPT server 50-2 providesthe TPT for broadcast related app to the reception apparatus 20 via thenetwork 90.

Note that the TPT server 50-1 corresponds to the above-mentioned TPTserver (for example, “TPT Server” of FIG. 10 and FIG. 15), and isprovided by a service provider such as a third party different from thebroadcaster. Further, the TPT server 50-2 corresponds to theabove-mentioned TPT server (for example, “TPT Server” of FIG. 10 andFIG. 15), and is provided by a broadcaster. Further, in the followingdescription, the TPT server 50-1 and the TPT server 50-2 will be simplyreferred to as the TPT server 50 when it is not particularly necessaryto distinguish between them. Note that the TPT server 50 may also bereferred to as a transmission apparatus that transmits the TPT.

The broadcast communication system 1 is configured as described above.Next, configuration examples of the apparatuses of the broadcastcommunication system 1 of FIG. 20 will be described.

(Configuration Example of Transmission Apparatus)

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the transmissionapparatus of FIG. 20.

In FIG. 21, the transmission apparatus 10 includes the audio dataobtaining unit 111, the audio encoder 112, the video data obtaining unit113, the video encoder 114, the trigger information generator 115, themultiplexer 116, and the transmission unit 117.

The audio data obtaining unit 111 obtains audio data of AV content froman external server, a microphone, a recording medium, or the like, andsupplies the obtained audio data to the audio encoder 112. The audioencoder 112 encodes the audio data supplied from the audio dataobtaining unit 111 in compliant with an encoding system such as MPEG(Moving Picture Experts Group), and supplies the encoded audio data tothe multiplexer 116.

The video data obtaining unit 113 obtains video data of AV content froman external server, a camera, a recording medium, or the like, andsupplies the obtained video data to the video encoder 114 and thetrigger information generator 115. The video encoder 114 encodes thevideo data supplied from the video data obtaining unit 113 in compliantwith an encoding system such as MPEG, and supplies the encoded videodata to the multiplexer 116.

The trigger information generator 115 generates trigger information withprogress of AV content corresponding to the video data supplied from thevideo data obtaining unit 113, and supplies the generated triggerinformation to the video encoder 114 or the multiplexer 116. Whenencoding video data, the video encoder 114 may embed trigger informationsupplied from the trigger information generator 115 in the video data,and encode the video data.

The multiplexer 116 multiplexes the audio data from the audio encoder112 and the video data from the video encoder 114, and supplies a streamobtained as the result to the transmission unit 117. Further, when thetrigger information is supplied from the trigger information generator115, the multiplexer 116 multiplexes the audio data, the video data, andthe trigger information, and thereby generates a stream.

The transmission unit 117 transmits the stream supplied from themultiplexer 116 via the antenna 118 as a digital broadcasting signal.

Note that, in the example of FIG. 21, the trigger information isembedded in video data or is multiplexed in a stream. Alternatively, thetrigger information may be provided according to another method. Forexample, the trigger information may be embedded in audio data.

(Configuration Example of Reception Apparatus)

FIG. 22 is a configuration example of the reception apparatus of FIG.20.

In FIG. 22, the reception apparatus 20 includes the tuner 212, thedemultiplexer 213, the audio decoder 214, the audio output unit 215, thevideo decoder 216, the video output unit 217, the trigger informationobtaining unit 218, the controller 219, the memory 220, the input unit221, the communication unit 222, the application engine 223, and thecache memory 224.

The tuner 212 selects/demodulates a digital broadcasting signal receivedvia the antenna 211, and supplies the stream obtained as the result tothe demultiplexer 213. The demultiplexer 213 demultiplexes the streamsupplied from the tuner 212, thereby obtains audio data and video data,and supplies the audio data and the video data to the audio decoder 214and the video decoder 216.

The audio decoder 214 decodes the audio data supplied from thedemultiplexer 213 in compliant with a decoding system corresponding tothe encoding system of the audio encoder 112 (FIG. 21), and supplies theaudio data obtained as the result to the audio output unit 215.

The audio output unit 215 outputs the audio data supplied from the audiodecoder 214 to a speaker (not shown). The speaker outputs soundscorresponding to the audio data supplied from the audio output unit 215.

The video decoder 216 decodes the video data supplied from thedemultiplexer 213 in compliant with a decoding system corresponding tothe encoding system of the video encoder 114 (FIG. 21), and supplies thevideo data obtained as the result to the video output unit 217 and thetrigger information obtaining unit 218.

The video output unit 217 outputs the video data supplied from the videodecoder 216 to a display (not shown). The display outputs imagescorresponding to the video data supplied from the video output unit 217.As a result, for example, the “broadcast full screen” (FIG. 7) isdisplayed.

The trigger information obtaining unit 218 always monitors video datasupplied from the video decoder 216, obtains trigger informationembedded in the video data, and supplies the obtained triggerinformation to the controller 219. Note that, when trigger informationis in a stream, the trigger information obtaining unit 218 monitors apacket containing trigger information, which is obtained bydemultiplexing the stream by the demultiplexer 213, and obtains thetrigger information from the packet.

The controller 219 controls the operations of the respective units ofthe reception apparatus 20 on the basis of the operation signals fromthe input unit 221 and the like. The memory 220 is controlled by thecontroller 219, and thereby records various kinds of data. The inputunit 221 receives the operations by a user, and supplies the operationsignals corresponding thereto to the controller 219. Further, thecontroller 219 controls the communication unit 222 on the basis of thetrigger information supplied from the trigger information obtaining unit218.

The communication unit 222 is controlled by the controller 219, therebyaccesses the TPT server 50 via the network 90, and requests the TPT. Thecommunication unit 222 receives the TPT transmitted from the TPT server50 via the network 90, and supplies the received TPT to the controller219. The controller 219 obtains the TPT supplied from the communicationunit 222, and records the obtained TPT in the memory 220. Further, thecontroller 219 controls the application engine 223 on the basis of theTPT.

The application engine 223 is controlled by the controller 219, therebycontrols the communication unit 222, accesses the application server 40via the network 90, and requests the broadcast independent app. Thecommunication unit 222 receives the broadcast independent apptransmitted from the application server 40 via the network 90, andrecords the received broadcast independent app in the cache memory 224.

The application engine 223 is controlled by the controller 219, therebyreads the broadcast independent app recorded in the cache memory 224,and executes the broadcast independent app. The video data of the thusexecuted broadcast independent app is supplied to the video output unit217.

The video output unit 217 displays images of the video data suppliedfrom the application engine 223 on the display. As a result, forexample, the “app screen” (FIG. 7) and the “app-only display screen”(FIG. 7) are displayed. Further, the video output unit 217 synthesizesthe video data supplied from the application engine 223 and the videodata supplied from the video decoder 216, and displays the thus obtainedimage on the display. As a result, for example, the “app+broadcastscreen” (FIG. 7) is displayed.

Note that the web page of the portal site is obtained from the portalserver 30 similar to the broadcast independent app obtained from theapplication server 40, and the image of the web page is output from thevideo output unit 217 and displayed on the display. As a result, forexample, the “portal screen” (FIG. 7) is displayed.

(Configuration Example of Controller)

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a functional configuration example showingpart of the controller 219 of FIG. 22, the part performing processingabout the broadcast independent app.

In FIG. 23, the controller 219 includes the TPT obtaining unit 251, theTPT analyzer 252, the application controller 253, and the triggerinformation analyzer 254.

The TPT obtaining unit 251 controls the communication unit 222 (FIG.22), thereby accesses the TPT server 50-1 via the network 90, obtainsthe TPT for broadcast independent app, and supplies the obtained TPT forbroadcast independent app to the TPT analyzer 252.

Further, the TPT obtaining unit 251 controls the communication unit 222(FIG. 22) on the basis of the result of analyzing the triggerinformation supplied from the trigger information analyzer 254(described later), accesses the TPT server 50-2 via the network 90,obtains the TPT for broadcast related app, and supplies the obtained TPTfor broadcast related app to the TPT analyzer 252.

The TPT analyzer 252 analyzes the TPT for broadcast independent appsupplied from the TPT obtaining unit 251. Further, the TPT analyzer 252analyzes the TPT for broadcast related app supplied from the TPTobtaining unit 251. The results of analyzing the TPTs are supplied tothe application controller 253.

The application controller 253 controls the application engine 223 (FIG.22) on the basis of the result of analyzing the TPT for broadcastindependent app supplied from the TPT analyzer 252, thereby accesses theapplication server 40 via the network 90, and obtains the broadcastindependent app.

Further, the application controller 253 controls the application engine223 (FIG. 22) on the basis of the result of analyzing the TPT suppliedfrom the TPT analyzer 252 and the like, and controls the operations ofthe broadcast independent app.

The trigger information analyzer 254 analyzes the trigger informationsupplied from the trigger information obtaining unit 218 (FIG. 22), andsupplies the analysis result to the TPT obtaining unit 251.

(Configuration Examples of Servers)

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing configuration examples of the servers ofFIG. 20. FIG. 24 shows configuration examples of the portal server 30,the application server 40, and the TPT server 50.

In FIG. 24, the portal server 30 includes the controller 311, thecommunication unit 312, and the file holder 313. The controller 311controls the operations of the respective units of the portal server 30.The communication unit 312 is controlled by the controller 311, andthereby communicates with the reception apparatus 20 via the network 90.The file holder 313 holds various files (for example, HTML file, JPEGfile, and the like) of the web page of the portal site. Note that thecontroller 311 may generate the web page of the portal site, or thecommunication unit 312 may obtain the web page of the portal site froman external server or the like via the network 90.

The controller 311 always monitors the communication status of thecommunication unit 312. When the reception apparatus 20 requests aportal site, the controller 311 obtains the web page of the portal sitefrom the file holder 313, and supplies the web page to the communicationunit 312. The communication unit 312 is controlled by the controller311, and thereby transmits the web page of the portal site to thereception apparatus 20, which has output the request, via the network90.

The portal server 30 is configured as described above.

In FIG. 24, the application server 40 includes the controller 411, thecommunication unit 412, and the application holder 413. The controller411 controls the operations of the respective units of the applicationserver 40. The communication unit 412 is controlled by the controller411, and thereby communicates with the reception apparatus 20 via thenetwork 90. The application holder 413 holds data such as various files(for example, HTML file, JPEG file, and the like) of the broadcastindependent app. Note that the controller 411 may generate the broadcastindependent app, or the communication unit 412 may obtain the broadcastindependent app from an external server or the like via the network 90.

The controller 411 always monitors the communication status of thecommunication unit 412. When the reception apparatus 20 requests thebroadcast independent app, the controller 411 obtains the broadcastindependent app from the application holder 413, and supplies thebroadcast independent app to the communication unit 412. Thecommunication unit 412 is controlled by the controller 411, and therebytransmits the broadcast independent app to the reception apparatus 20,which has output the request, via the network 90.

The application server 40 is configured as described above.

In FIG. 24, the TPT server 50 includes the controller 511, thecommunication unit 512, and the TPT holder 513. The controller 511controls the operations of the respective units of the TPT server 50.The communication unit 512 is controlled by the controller 511, therebycommunicates with the reception apparatus 20 via the network 90. The TPTholder 513 holds files of TPT (for example, XML file). Note that thecontroller 511 may generate the files of TPT, or the communication unit512 may obtain the files of TPT from an external server or the like viathe network 90.

The controller 511 always monitors the communication status of thecommunication unit 512. When the reception apparatus 20 requests theTPT, the controller 511 obtains the TPT from the TPT holder 513, andsupplies the TPT to the communication unit 512. The communication unit512 is controlled by the controller 511, and thereby transmits the TPTto the reception apparatus 20, which has output the request, via thenetwork 90.

Note that, in the above description, to make the description simple, theTPT server 50-1 and the TPT server 50-2 have been collectively referredto as the TPT server 50. The TPT holder 513-1 of the TPT server 50-1holds the file of the TPT for broadcast independent app. Further, theTPT holder 513-2 of the TPT server 50-2 holds the TPT for broadcastrelated app.

The TPT server 50 is configured as described above.

4. Flows of Processing Executed by Apparatuses

Next, with reference to the flowcharts of FIG. 25 to FIG. 30, theprocessing flows executed by the respective apparatuses of the broadcastcommunication system of FIG. 20 will be described.

(Digital Broadcasting Signal Transmission Processing)

First, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 25, the flow of thedigital broadcasting signal transmission processing executed by thetransmission apparatus 10 of FIG. 20 will be described.

In Step S111, the audio data obtaining unit 111 obtains audio data of AVcontent from an external server or the like, and supplies the obtainedaudio data to the audio encoder 112. Further, in Step S112, the videodata obtaining unit 113 obtains video data of AV content from anexternal server or the like, and supplies the obtained video data to thevideo encoder 114 and the trigger information generator 115.

In Step S113, the trigger information generator 115 generates triggerinformation with progress of AV content corresponding to the video datasupplied from the video data obtaining unit 113, and supplies thegenerated trigger information to the video encoder 114.

In Step S114, the audio encoder 112 encodes the audio data supplied fromthe audio data obtaining unit 111 in compliant with an encoding systemsuch as MPEG, and supplies the encoded audio data to the multiplexer116.

In Step S115, the video encoder 114 encodes the video data supplied fromthe video data obtaining unit 113 in compliant with an encoding systemsuch as MPEG, and supplies the encoded video data to the multiplexer116. Further, when encoding video data, the video encoder 114 embedstrigger information supplied from the trigger information generator 115in the video data, and encodes the video data.

In Step S116, the multiplexer 116 multiplexes the audio data from theaudio encoder 112 and the video data from the video encoder 114, andsupplies a stream obtained as the result to the transmission unit 117.

In Step S117, the transmission unit 117 transmits the stream suppliedfrom the multiplexer 116 via the antenna 118 as a digital broadcastingsignal. When the processing of Step S117 is terminated, the digitalbroadcasting signal transmission processing of FIG. 25 is terminated.

Hereinabove, the digital broadcasting signal transmission processing hasbeen described. Note that, in the description of the example of thedigital broadcasting signal transmission processing of FIG. 25, to makethe description simple, trigger information is embedded in video data.

(Digital Broadcasting Signal Reception Processing)

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 26, the flow of thedigital broadcasting signal reception processing executed by thereception apparatus 20 of FIG. 20 will be described.

In Step S211, the tuner 212 selects/demodulates a digital broadcastingsignal received via the antenna 211. Further, in Step S212, thedemultiplexer 213 demultiplexes the stream demodulated by the tuner 212,and thereby obtains audio data and video data.

In Step S213, the audio decoder 214 decodes the audio data obtained asthe result of demulplexing by the demultiplexer 213 in compliant with adecoding system corresponding to the encoding system of the audioencoder 112 (FIG. 21), and supplies the audio data obtained as theresult to the audio output unit 215.

In Step S214, the video decoder 216 decodes the video data supplied fromthe demultiplexer 213 in compliant with a decoding system correspondingto the encoding system of the video encoder 114 (FIG. 21), and suppliesthe video data obtained as the result to the video output unit 217.

In Step S215, the audio output unit 215 outputs the audio data suppliedfrom the audio decoder 214 to a speaker (not shown). Further, in StepS216, the video output unit 217 outputs the video data supplied from thevideo decoder 216 to a display (not shown). As a result, the displaydisplays images of the AV content, and the speaker outputs sounds insync with the images.

When the processing of Step S216 is terminated, the digital broadcastingsignal reception processing of FIG. 26 is terminated.

Hereinabove, the digital broadcasting signal reception processing hasbeen described.

(First Processing for Supporting Broadcast Independent App)

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 27, the flow of the firstprocessing for supporting the broadcast independent app executed by thereception apparatus 20 of FIG. 20 will be described. Note that the firstprocessing for supporting the broadcast independent app corresponds tothe above-mentioned first embodiment.

When the “portal screen” (FIG. 7) is displayed in the processing of StepS231, in Step S232, the controller 219 determines whether a user selectsthe broadcast independent app on the “portal screen” or not on the basisof an operation signal from the input unit 221.

In Step S232, when it is determined that the broadcast independent appis not selected, the determining process of Step S232 is repeated. Whenthe broadcast independent app is selected by a user in Step S232, theprocessing proceeds to Step S233.

In Step S233, the TPT obtaining unit 251 controls the communication unit222, thereby accesses the TPT server 50-1 via the network 90, andobtains the TPT for broadcast independent app. The TPT for broadcastindependent app is recorded in the memory 220.

In Step S234, the TPT analyzer 252 analyzes the TPT for broadcastindependent app obtained in the processing of Step S233, and suppliesthe analysis result to the application controller 253.

In Step S235, the application controller 253 controls the applicationengine 223 on the basis of the result of analyzing the TPT obtained inthe processing of Step S234, thereby accesses the application server 40via the network 90, and obtains the broadcast independent app. Notethat, when accessing the application server 40, URL specified for URLelement of Application element described in the TPT for broadcastindependent app (FIG. 12) is used.

In Step S236, the application controller 253 controls the applicationengine 223, and thereby activates the broadcast independent app obtainedin the processing of Step S235. As a result, the reception apparatus 20executes the broadcast independent app, and the “app screen” (FIG. 7) isdisplayed.

In Step S237, the application controller 253 determines whether thebroadcast independent app being executed has selected a broadcastservice (for example, broadcast program) or not. When it is determinedthat the broadcast independent app has not selected a broadcast servicein Step S237, the determining process of Step S237 is repeated. When thebroadcast independent app selects a broadcast service in Step S237, theprocessing proceeds to Step S238.

In Step S238, the trigger information obtaining unit 218 obtains triggerinformation embedded in video data supplied from the video decoder 216,and supplies the obtained trigger information to the trigger informationanalyzer 254.

In Step S239, the trigger information analyzer 254 analyzes the triggerinformation obtained in the processing of Step S238.

In Step S240, the TPT obtaining unit 251 controls the communication unit222 on the basis of the result of analyzing the trigger informationobtained in the processing of Step S239, accesses the TPT server 50-2via the network 90, and obtains the TPT for broadcast related app. TheTPT for broadcast related app is recorded in the memory 220.

In Step S241, the TPT analyzer 252 analyzes the TPT for broadcastrelated app obtained in the processing of Step S240.

In Step S242, the TPT analyzer 252 determines whether continuation ofthe operation using broadcast resources by the broadcast independent appis permitted or not on the basis of the result of analyzing the TPT forbroadcast independent app obtained in the processing of Step S234 and onthe basis of the result of analyzing the TPT for broadcast related appobtained in the processing of Step S241.

Specifically, use of broadcast resources by the broadcast independentapp is permitted when the broadcast related app is described in the TPTfor broadcast related app (FIG. 6), where the global ID value of thebroadcast related app is the same as the global ID value of thebroadcast independent app being executed, where the value of a URL(where entry=“true”) from which the broadcast related app is obtained isthe same as the value of a URL from which the broadcast independent appis obtained, and where execute command (“exec”) is specified for anevent of the broadcast related app at this time. In short, it isdetermined whether continuation of the operation using broadcastresources by the broadcast independent app is permitted or not on thebasis of the result of determining whether use of broadcast resources bythe broadcast independent app is permitted or not.

When it is determined that continuation of the operation using broadcastresources by the broadcast independent app is permitted in Step S242,the processing proceeds to Step S243. In this case, since use ofbroadcast resources by the broadcast independent app is permitted andthe broadcast independent app continues the operation, the“app+broadcast screen” (FIG. 7) is displayed in Step S243.

Note that the above-mentioned broadcast independent app, which ispermitted to continue the operations using broadcast resources on thebasis of the TPT for broadcast related app, is, in other words, thebroadcast related app, which is permitted to continue the operations bya broadcaster. So, after that, the broadcast independent app willoperate as the broadcast related app.

Further, when continuation of the operation using broadcast resources bythe broadcast independent app is not permitted in Step S242, theprocessing proceeds to Step S244. In Step S244, it is determined whetherthe Case A or the Case B is to be executed on the basis of contextattribute of Application element described in the TPT for broadcastindependent app (FIG. 12).

When it is determined to execute the Case A in Step S244, the processingproceeds to Step S245. In this case, although continuation of theoperation using broadcast resources is not permitted, the broadcastindependent app continues the operation without using broadcastresources. So, in Step S245, the “app-only display screen” (FIG. 7) isdisplayed.

Further, when it is determined to execute the Case B in Step S244, theprocessing proceeds to Step S246. In this case, since continuation ofthe operation using broadcast resources is not permitted, the broadcastindependent app terminates the operation. So, in Step S246, the“broadcast full screen” (FIG. 7) is displayed.

When the screen depending on the above-mentioned determination result isdisplayed in the processing of Step S243, S245, or S246, the firstprocessing for supporting the broadcast independent app of FIG. 27 isterminated.

Hereinabove, the first processing for supporting the broadcastindependent app has been described. In the first processing forsupporting the broadcast independent app, when broadcast resources areto be used by the broadcast independent app, the content described inthe TPT for broadcast independent app is checked against the contentdescribed in the TPT for broadcast related app. Then, depending on thecheck result, the “app+broadcast screen” (FIG. 7) is displayed when useof broadcast resources is permitted, and the “app-only display screen”(FIG. 7) or the “broadcast full screen” (FIG. 7) is displayed when useof broadcast resources is not permitted.

(Second Processing for Supporting Broadcast Independent App)

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 28, the flow of the secondprocessing for supporting the broadcast independent app executed by thereception apparatus 20 of FIG. 20 will be described. Note that thesecond processing for supporting the broadcast independent appcorresponds to the above-mentioned second embodiment.

When the “portal screen” (FIG. 7) is displayed in the processing of StepS261, in Step S262, the controller 219 determines whether a user selectsthe broadcast independent app on the “portal screen” or not on the basisof an operation signal from the input unit 221.

In Step S262, when it is determined that the broadcast independent appis not selected, the determining process of Step S262 is repeated. Whenthe broadcast independent app is selected by a user in Step S262, theprocessing proceeds to Step S263.

In Step S263, the TPT obtaining unit 251 controls the communication unit222, thereby accesses the TPT server 50-1 via the network 90, andobtains the TPT for broadcast independent app. The TPT for broadcastindependent app is recorded in the memory 220.

In Step S264, the TPT analyzer 252 analyzes the TPT for broadcastindependent app obtained in the processing of Step S263, and suppliesthe analysis result to the application controller 253.

In Step S265, the TPT analyzer 252 verifies the electronic signaturedescribed in the TPT for broadcast independent app by using thebroadcasting station public key certificate that the memory 220 holds inadvance. Note that the electronic signature is specified for Signatureelement of the TPT for broadcast independent app (FIG. 17). Further,when the memory 220 does not hold a broadcasting station public keycertificate, for example, the TPT analyzer 252 waits for the file of therequired broadcasting station public key certificate until thetransmission apparatus 10 transmits the file in a FLUTE session, and theverification process of Step S265 is executed after the requiredbroadcasting station public key certificate is obtained.

In Step S266, it is determined whether the electronic signature isverified or not in the verification process of Step S265. When it isdetermined that the electronic signature is not verified in Step S266,the broadcast independent app is not activated and the second processingfor supporting the broadcast independent app of FIG. 28 is terminated.Further, when it is determined that the electronic signature is verifiedin Step S266, the processing proceeds to Step S267.

In Step S267, the application controller 253 controls the applicationengine 223 on the basis of the result of analyzing the TPT obtained inthe processing of Step S264, thereby accesses the application server 40via the network 90, and obtains the broadcast independent app. Notethat, when accessing the application server 40, URL specified for URLelement of Application element described in the TPT for broadcastindependent app (FIG. 17) is used.

In Step S268, the application controller 253 controls the applicationengine 223, and thereby activates the broadcast independent app obtainedin the processing of Step S267. As a result, the reception apparatus 20executes the broadcast independent app, and the “app screen” (FIG. 7) isdisplayed.

In Step S269, the application controller 253 determines whether arequest to access broadcast resources by the broadcast independent appbeing executed has generated or not. When it is determined that arequest to access broadcast resources has not generated in Step S269,the determining process of Step S269 is repeated. When a request toaccess broadcast resources by the broadcast independent app beingexecuted is generated in Step S269, the processing proceeds to StepS270.

In Step S270, the TPT analyzer 252 determines whether the broadcastindependent app has authority to access broadcast resources or not onthe basis of the TPT for broadcast independent app recorded in thememory 220. Specifically, access authority is described for eachbroadcasting station (broadcast service) in the TPT for broadcastindependent app (FIG. 17). On the basis of the broadcast permissioninformation, it is determined whether the broadcast independent app hasauthority to access broadcast resources (for example, a broadcastservice, of which selection is instructed) or not.

When it is determined that the broadcast independent app has authorityto access broadcast resources in Step S270, the processing proceeds toStep S271. In this case, since use of broadcast resources by thebroadcast independent app is permitted and the broadcast independent appcontinues the operation, the “app+broadcast screen” (FIG. 7) isdisplayed in Step S271.

Further, when it is determined that the broadcast independent app doesnot have authority to access broadcast resources in Step S270, theprocessing proceeds to Step S272. In Step S272, it is determined whetherthe Case A or the Case B is to be executed on the basis of contextattribute of Application element described in the TPT for broadcastindependent app (FIG. 17).

When it is determined to execute the Case A in Step S272, the processingproceeds to Step S273. In this case, although the broadcast independentapp does not have authority to access broadcast resources, the broadcastindependent app continues the operation without using broadcastresources. So, in Step S273, the “app-only display screen” (FIG. 7) isdisplayed.

Further, when it is determined to execute the Case B in Step S272, theprocessing proceeds to Step S274. In this case, since the broadcastindependent app does not have authority to access broadcast resources,the broadcast independent app terminates the operation. So, in StepS274, the “broadcast full screen” (FIG. 7) is displayed.

When the screen depending on the above-mentioned determination result isdisplayed in the processing of Step S271, S273, or S274, the secondprocessing for supporting the broadcast independent app of FIG. 28 isterminated.

Hereinabove, the second processing for supporting the broadcastindependent app has been described. In the second processing forsupporting the broadcast independent app, when broadcast resources areto be used by the broadcast independent app, it is determined whetherthe broadcast independent app has authority to access a broadcastservice or not by using broadcast permission information described inthe TPT for broadcast independent app. Further, the “app+broadcastscreen” (FIG. 7) is displayed when the broadcast independent app hasauthority to access broadcast resources, and the “app-only displayscreen” (FIG. 7) or the “broadcast full screen” (FIG. 7) is displayedwhen the broadcast independent app does not have authority to accessbroadcast resources.

(Broadcast Independent App Providing Processing)

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 29, the flow of thebroadcast independent app providing processing executed by theapplication server 40 of FIG. 20 will be described. Note that, inadvance of the broadcast independent app providing processing of FIG.29, the application holder 413 holds the broadcast independent appgenerated by the controller 411.

In Step S411, the controller 411 always monitors the communicationstatus of the communication unit 412, and determines whether thereception apparatus 20 has requested the broadcast independent app ornot. When it is determined that the broadcast independent app is notrequested in Step S411, the processing of Step S411 is repeated. Inother words, when the reception apparatus 20 requests the broadcastindependent app in Step S411, the processing proceeds to Step S412.

In Step S412, the controller 411 obtains the broadcast independent appfrom the application holder 413, and supplies the obtained broadcastindependent app to the communication unit 412. Further, in Step S413,the communication unit 412 is controlled by the controller 411, andthereby transmits the broadcast independent app to the receptionapparatus 20, which has output the request, via the network 90. When theprocessing of Step S413 is terminated, the broadcast independent appproviding processing of FIG. 29 is terminated.

Hereinabove, the broadcast independent app providing processing has beendescribed.

(TPT Providing Processing)

Finally, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 30, the flow of the TPTproviding processing executed by the TPT server 50 of FIG. 20 will bedescribed. Note that, in advance of the TPT providing processing of FIG.30, the TPT holder 513 holds the TPT for broadcast independent app orthe TPT for broadcast related app generated by the controller 511.

In Step S511, the controller 511 always monitors the communicationstatus of the communication unit 512, and determines whether thereception apparatus 20 requests the TPT or not. When it is determinedthat the TPT is not requested in Step S511, the processing of Step S511is repeated. In other words, when the reception apparatus 20 requeststhe TPT in Step S511, the processing proceeds to Step S512.

In Step S512, the controller 511 obtains the TPT from the TPT holder513, and supplies the TPT to the communication unit 512. Further, inStep S513, the communication unit 512 is controlled by the controller511, and thereby transmits the TPT to the reception apparatus 20, whichhas output the request, via the network 90. When the processing of StepS513 is terminated, the TPT providing processing of FIG. 30 isterminated.

Hereinabove, the TPT providing processing has been described. Note that,in the TPT providing processing, the TPT providing processing by the TPTserver 50-1 and by the TPT server 50-2 is described as a whole.Actually, when the TPT server 50-1 executes the TPT providing processingof FIG. 30, the TPT server 50-1 provides the TPT for broadcastindependent app to the reception apparatus 20, which has output therequest. Further, when the TPT server 50-2 executes the TPT providingprocessing of FIG. 30, the TPT server 50-2 provides the TPT forbroadcast related app to the reception apparatus 20, which has outputthe request.

5. Modification Example

(Another Configuration Example of Broadcast Communication System)

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing another configuration example of thebroadcast communication system.

The broadcast communication system 2 includes the transmission apparatus10, the reception apparatus 20, the portal server 30, the applicationserver 40, the TPT server 50, and the ACR server 60.

In short, the broadcast communication system 2 of FIG. 31 is similar tothe broadcast communication system 1 of FIG. 20 except for thenewly-provided ACR server 60. Since the configuration of the broadcastcommunication system 2 is similar to the configuration of the broadcastcommunication system 1 of FIG. 20 except for the ACR server 60, thedescription thereof will be omitted arbitrarily.

The ACR server 60 is connected to the reception apparatus 20 via thenetwork 90. The reception apparatus 20 accesses the ACR server 60 viathe network 90, and makes an inquiry to the ACR server 60 about triggerinformation. At this time, the amount of characteristic (hereinafteralso referred to as fingerprint information (FingerPrint)) extractedfrom at least one of video data and audio data of AV content such as abroadcast program is transmitted to the ACR server 60.

The ACR server 60 is provided by a broadcaster such as a AV contentprovider, for example. The ACR server 60 has a database in which theamount of characteristic extracted from video data and audio data ofarbitrary AV content is registered, and identifies AV content by usingan ACR (Automatic Content Recognition) technology in response to aninquiry from the reception apparatus 20 via the network 90.

Specifically, the ACR server 60 checks fingerprint information from thereception apparatus 20 against the database to thereby identify the AVcontent, and generates trigger information depending on theidentification result. The ACR server 60 transmits the generated triggerinformation to the reception apparatus 20 via the network 90.

The reception apparatus 20 accesses the TPT server 50-2 via the network90 on the basis of the trigger information received from the ACR server60, and obtains the TPT for broadcast related app. Further, as describedabove in the first embodiment, the reception apparatus 20 performs theoperation-continuance permissibility determining process. In theoperation-continuance permissibility determining process, the receptionapparatus 20 determines whether continuation of the operation usingbroadcast resources by the broadcast independent app is permitted or noton the basis of the TPT for broadcast independent app and the TPT forbroadcast related app. The reception apparatus 20 displays a screendepending on the determination result (for example, the “app+broadcastscreen”, the “app-only display screen”, or the “broadcast full screen”of FIG. 7).

The broadcast communication system 2 is configured as described above.

(Operations of Receiver Apparatus that Uses Fingerprint Information)

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing the operations of the receiver apparatuswhen fingerprint information is used.

In FIG. 32, when the reception apparatus 20 (FIG. 31) is instructed todisplay a portal site, the receiver apparatus accesses the portal server30 (FIG. 31) via the network 90, and requests a web page of the portalsite (S71). In response to the request from the reception apparatus 20,the portal server 30 transmits the web page of the portal site to thereception apparatus 20 via the network 90 (S72). The reception apparatus20 displays the web page of the portal site received from the portalserver 30.

When the broadcast independent app is selected on the portal site, thereception apparatus 20 (FIG. 31) accesses the TPT server 50-1 (FIG. 31)via the network 90, and requests the TPT for broadcast independent app(S73). In response to the request from the reception apparatus 20, theTPT server 50-1 transmits the TPT for broadcast independent app (“TPT”of FIG. 32) to the reception apparatus 20 via the network 90 (S74). Thereception apparatus 20 receives and holds the TPT for broadcastindependent app transmitted from the TPT server 50-1.

Further, the reception apparatus 20 (FIG. 31) accesses the applicationserver 40 (FIG. 31) via the network 90 on the basis of the TPT forbroadcast independent app, and requests the broadcast independent app(S75). In response to the request from the reception apparatus 20, theapplication server 40 transmits the broadcast independent app (“App” ofFIG. 32) to the reception apparatus 20 via the network 90 (S76). Thereception apparatus 20 receives and activates the broadcast independentapp transmitted from the application server 40.

Here, when a broadcast service (for example, AV content such asbroadcast program) is selected by the broadcast independent app beingexecuted, the reception apparatus 20 (FIG. 31) transmits the amount ofcharacteristic extracted from video data and audio data of AV content(“Content” of FIG. 32) by the transmission apparatus 10 (FIG. 31) of thebroadcasting station to the ACR server 60 (FIG. 31) as fingerprintinformation, and requests trigger information (S78).

The ACR server 60 performs ACR identification processing. In the ACRidentification processing, the ACR server 60 checks the fingerprintinformation from the reception apparatus 20 against the database, andthe reception apparatus 20 thereby identifies a broadcast service (forexample, AV content such as broadcast program) selected by the broadcastindependent app.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 33, when the ACR server 60 receives afingerprint information inquiry from the reception apparatus 20, the ACRidentification processor 611 checks the fingerprint information againstthe FP database 612 prepared in advance, and identifies AV contentselected by the broadcast independent app. The identification result issupplied to the trigger information generator 613. The triggerinformation generator 613 generates trigger information on the basis ofthe identification result from the ACR identification processor 611 andvarious kinds of information registered in the trigger database 614.

Note that the fingerprint information (amount of characteristic) isunique information of the entire AV content or a configuration elementof the AV content, for example. Unique information of many AV contentsis registered in the FP database 612 in advance. For example, the degreeof similarity or the degree of consistency of each unique information isdetermined in the ACR identification processing. Note that any knowntechnology disclosed in various documents may be used as a method ofdetermining the degree of similarity or the degree of consistency.According to the ACR technology, it is possible to identify the AVcontent on the basis of the amount of characteristic of video data andaudio data independent of information such as the resolution, the aspectratio, the bit rate, or the format of the AV content.

With reference to FIG. 32 again, the ACR server 60 transmits thegenerated trigger information (“Trigger” of FIG. 32) to the receptionapparatus 20, which has sent the inquiry (S79). The reception apparatus20 accesses the TPT server 50-2 (FIG. 31) via the network 90 on thebasis of the trigger information from the ACR server 60, and requeststhe TPT for broadcast related app (S80). In response to the request fromthe reception apparatus 20, the TPT server 50-2 transmits the TPT forbroadcast related app (“TPT” of FIG. 32) to the reception apparatus 20via the network 90 (S81). The reception apparatus 20 receives andobtains the TPT for broadcast related app transmitted from the TPTserver 50-2.

Then the reception apparatus 20 performs the operation-continuancepermissibility determining process. In the operation-continuancepermissibility determining process, the reception apparatus 20determines whether continuation of the operation using broadcastresources by the broadcast independent app is permitted or not on thebasis of the TPT for broadcast independent app and the TPT for broadcastrelated app.

When use of broadcast resources by the broadcast independent app ispermitted in the operation-continuance permissibility determiningprocess, the reception apparatus 20 makes a transition to the “broadcastreception (AV reproduction+broadcast related app execution)” status ofFIG. 9, and the broadcast independent app continues the operations asthe broadcast related app. In this case, the reception apparatus 20displays the “app+broadcast screen” (FIG. 7).

To the contrary, when use of broadcast resources by the broadcastindependent app is not permitted, the reception apparatus 20 makes atransition to the “broadcast independent app execution” status of FIG. 9or the “broadcast reception (AV-only reproduction)” status of FIG. 9,and displays the “app-only display screen” (FIG. 7) of the Case A or the“broadcast full screen” (FIG. 7) of the Case B.

Note that, in the above description, AV content is broadcast contentsuch as a broadcast program. Alternatively, a streaming server (notshown) may streaming-distribute communication content via the network 90instead of the broadcast content.

6. Configuration of Computer

The above-mentioned series of processing may be executed by hardware ormay be executed by software. If the series of processing is executed bysoftware, programs configuring that software are installed into acomputer. FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a configuration example ofhardware of a computer that executes the above-mentioned series ofprocessing according to the programs.

In a computer 900, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 901, a ROM (Read OnlyMemory) 902, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 903 are connected to oneanother via a bus 904. An input/output interface 905 is furtherconnected to the bus 904. An input unit 906, an output unit 907, arecording unit 908, a communication unit 909, and a drive 910 areconnected to the input/output interface 905.

The input unit 906 is constituted of a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone,and the like. The output unit 907 is constituted of a display, aspeaker, and the like. The recording unit 908 is constituted of a harddisk, a nonvolatile memory, and the like. The communication unit 909 isconstituted of a network interface and the like. The drive 910 drives aremovable medium 911 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disc, amagneto-optical disk, and a semiconductor memory.

In the thus configured computer 900, the above-mentioned series ofprocessing is performed by the CPU 901 loading programs stored in theROM 902 and the recording unit 908 into the RAM 903 via the input/outputinterface 905 and the bus 904 and executing them.

The programs executed by the computer 900 (CPU 901) can be recorded andprovided on the removable medium 911 as a package medium, for example.Further, the programs can be provided via a wired or wirelesstransmission medium such as a local-area network, the Internet, anddigital satellite broadcasting.

In the computer 900, the programs can be installed into the recordingunit 908 via the input/output interface 905 by the removable medium 911being mounted on the drive 910. Further, the programs can be received bythe communication unit 909 via the wired or wireless transmission mediumand installed into the recording unit 908. Otherwise, the programs canbe installed into the ROM 902 or the recording unit 908 in advance.

In the present specification, the processing executed by the computeraccording to the programs does not necessarily need to be performed in atime sequence in the order described as the flowchart. That is, theprocessing executed by the computer according to the programs includesprocesses executed in parallel or individually (e.g., parallelprocessing or processing by objects). Further, the programs may beprocessed by a single computer (processor) or may be processed by aplurality of computers in a distributed manner.

Note that embodiments of the present technology are not limited to theabove-mentioned embodiments and various modifications can be madewithout departing from the gist of the present technology.

It should be noted that the present technology may take the followingconfigurations.

(1)

A reception apparatus, including:

a reception unit that receives a digital broadcasting signal;

an application obtaining unit that obtains a first application, thefirst application being capable of requesting use of a broadcastresource transmitted via the digital broadcasting signal;

a control information obtaining unit that obtains first controlinformation for controlling an operation of the first application; and

an application controller that controls, when the first applicationrequests use of the broadcast resource, the use of the broadcastresource by the first application on the basis of the first controlinformation.

(2)

The reception apparatus according to (1), in which

the control information obtaining unit further obtains second controlinformation for controlling an operation of a second application, thesecond application being activated in a broadcast service, and

the application controller limits the use of the broadcast resource bythe first application when continuation of the operation using thebroadcast resource by the first application is not permitted on thebasis of a result of checking the first control information against thesecond control information.

(3)

The reception apparatus according to (2), in which the applicationcontroller continues the operation of the first application and does notdisplay the broadcast resource when the continuation of the operationusing the broadcast resource by the first application is not permitted.

(4)

The reception apparatus according to (2), in which the applicationcontroller terminates the operation of the first application anddisplays the broadcast resource in a normal status when the continuationof the operation using the broadcast resource by the first applicationis not permitted.

(5)

The reception apparatus according to any one of (2) to (4), in which

the application controller continues the operation of the firstapplication when the continuation of the operation using the broadcastresource by the first application is permitted, the first applicationbeing operated as the second application.

(6)

The reception apparatus according to any one of (2) to (5), furtherincluding:

a trigger information obtaining unit that obtains trigger informationfor controlling the operation of the second application, in which

the control information obtaining unit obtains the second controlinformation on the basis of the trigger information.

(7)

The reception apparatus according to (2), in which

the application controller limits the use of the broadcast resource bythe first application when the first application has no authority toaccess the broadcast resource on the basis of broadcast permissioninformation indicating authority to access each broadcast service, thefirst control information including the broadcast permissioninformation.

(8)

The reception apparatus according to (7), in which

the application controller continues the operation of the firstapplication and does not display the broadcast resource when the firstapplication has no authority to access the broadcast resource.

(9)

The reception apparatus according to (7), in which

the application controller terminates the operation of the firstapplication and displays the broadcast resource in a normal status whenthe first application has no authority to access the broadcast resource.

(10)

The reception apparatus according to any one of (7) to (9), in which

the application obtaining unit obtains the first application whensignature information is verified by using a predetermined certificate,the first control information including the signature information.

(11)

The reception apparatus according to any one of (7) to (10), in which

the broadcast permission information is specified for each broadcastservice in a bitmap format.

(12)

A reception method for a reception apparatus, including the steps of:

by the reception apparatus,

receiving a digital broadcasting signal;

obtaining a first application, the first application being capable ofrequesting use of a broadcast resource transmitted via the digitalbroadcasting signal;

obtaining first control information for controlling an operation of thefirst application; and

controlling the use of the broadcast resource by the first applicationon the basis of the first control information when the first applicationrequests use of the broadcast resource.

(13)

A transmission apparatus, including:

a control information generator that generates first control informationfor controlling an operation of a first application, the firstapplication being capable of requesting use of a broadcast resourcetransmitted via a digital broadcasting signal, the first controlinformation being used when the broadcast resource is used by the firstapplication; and

a transmission unit that transmits the first control information via anetwork in response to a request from a receiver apparatus.

(14)

The transmission apparatus according to (13), in which

the first control information is used for checking against secondcontrol information for controlling an operation of a second applicationwhen the broadcast resource is used by the first application, the secondapplication being activated in a broadcast service.

(15)

The transmission apparatus according to (14), in which

the first control information includes information indicating, whencontinuation of the operation using the broadcast resource by the firstapplication is not permitted, to continue the operation of the firstapplication and not to display the broadcast resource or to terminatethe operation of the first application and display the broadcastresource in a normal status.

(16)

The transmission apparatus according to (13), in which

the first control information includes broadcast permission informationindicating authority to access each broadcast service.

(17)

The transmission apparatus according to (16), in which

the first control information includes information indicating, when thefirst application has no authority to access the broadcast resource, tocontinue the operation of the first application and not to display thebroadcast resource or to terminate the operation of the firstapplication and display the broadcast resource in a normal status.

(18)

The transmission apparatus according to (16) or (17), in which

the first control information includes signature information, thesignature information being used for verification using a predeterminedcertificate when obtaining the first application.

(19)

The transmission apparatus according to any one of (16) to (18), inwhich

the broadcast permission information is specified for each broadcastservice in a bitmap format.

(20)

A transmission method for a transmission apparatus, including the stepsof:

by the transmission apparatus,

generating first control information for controlling an operation of afirst application, the first application being capable of requesting useof a broadcast resource transmitted via a digital broadcasting signal,the first control information being used when the broadcast resource isused by the first application; and

transmitting the first control information via a network in response toa request from a receiver apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1, 2 broadcast communication system, 10 transmission apparatus, 20reception apparatus, 30 portal server, 40 application server, 50, 50-1,50-2 the TPT server, 60 ACR server, 90 network, 111 audio data obtainingunit, 113 video data obtaining unit, 115 trigger information generator,117 transmission unit, 212 tuner, 218 trigger information obtainingunit, 219 controller, 222 communication unit, 223 application engine,251 TPT obtaining unit, 252 TPT analyzer, 253 application controller,254 trigger information analyzer, 311 controller, 312 communicationunit, 411 controller, 412 communication unit, 511 controller, 512communication unit, 613 trigger information generator, 900 computer, 901CPU

1. A reception apparatus, comprising: a reception unit that receives adigital broadcasting signal; an application obtaining unit that obtainsa first application, the first application being capable of requestinguse of a broadcast resource transmitted via the digital broadcastingsignal; a control information obtaining unit that obtains first controlinformation for controlling an operation of the first application; andan application controller that controls, when the first applicationrequests use of the broadcast resource, the use of the broadcastresource by the first application on the basis of the first controlinformation.
 2. The reception apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe control information obtaining unit further obtains second controlinformation for controlling an operation of a second application, thesecond application being activated in a broadcast service, and theapplication controller limits the use of the broadcast resource by thefirst application when continuation of the operation using the broadcastresource by the first application is not permitted on the basis of aresult of checking the first control information against the secondcontrol information.
 3. The reception apparatus according to claim 2,wherein the application controller continues the operation of the firstapplication and does not display the broadcast resource when thecontinuation of the operation using the broadcast resource by the firstapplication is not permitted.
 4. The reception apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the application controller terminates the operation ofthe first application and displays the broadcast resource in a normalstatus when the continuation of the operation using the broadcastresource by the first application is not permitted.
 5. The receptionapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the application controllercontinues the operation of the first application when the continuationof the operation using the broadcast resource by the first applicationis permitted, the first application being operated as the secondapplication.
 6. The reception apparatus according to claim 5, furthercomprising: a trigger information obtaining unit that obtains triggerinformation for controlling the operation of the second application,wherein the control information obtaining unit obtains the secondcontrol information on the basis of the trigger information.
 7. Thereception apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the applicationcontroller limits the use of the broadcast resource by the firstapplication when the first application has no authority to access thebroadcast resource on the basis of broadcast permission informationindicating authority to access each broadcast service, the first controlinformation including the broadcast permission information.
 8. Thereception apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the applicationcontroller continues the operation of the first application and does notdisplay the broadcast resource when the first application has noauthority to access the broadcast resource.
 9. The reception apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein the application controller terminates theoperation of the first application and displays the broadcast resourcein a normal status when the first application has no authority to accessthe broadcast resource.
 10. The reception apparatus according to claim7, wherein the application obtaining unit obtains the first applicationwhen signature information is verified by using a predeterminedcertificate, the first control information including the signatureinformation.
 11. The reception apparatus according to claim 7, whereinthe broadcast permission information is specified for each broadcastservice in a bitmap format.
 12. A reception method for a receptionapparatus, comprising the steps of: by the reception apparatus,receiving a digital broadcasting signal; obtaining a first application,the first application being capable of requesting use of a broadcastresource transmitted via the digital broadcasting signal; obtainingfirst control information for controlling an operation of the firstapplication; and controlling the use of the broadcast resource by thefirst application on the basis of the first control information when thefirst application requests use of the broadcast resource.
 13. Atransmission apparatus, comprising: a control information generator thatgenerates first control information for controlling an operation of afirst application, the first application being capable of requesting useof a broadcast resource transmitted via a digital broadcasting signal,the first control information being used when the broadcast resource isused by the first application; and a transmission unit that transmitsthe first control information via a network in response to a requestfrom a receiver apparatus.
 14. The transmission apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the first control information is used for checkingagainst second control information for controlling an operation of asecond application when the broadcast resource is used by the firstapplication, the second application being activated in a broadcastservice.
 15. The transmission apparatus according to claim 14, whereinthe first control information includes information indicating, whencontinuation of the operation using the broadcast resource by the firstapplication is not permitted, to continue the operation of the firstapplication and not to display the broadcast resource or to terminatethe operation of the first application and display the broadcastresource in a normal status.
 16. The transmission apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the first control information includes broadcastpermission information indicating authority to access each broadcastservice.
 17. The transmission apparatus according to claim 16, whereinthe first control information includes information indicating, when thefirst application has no authority to access the broadcast resource, tocontinue the operation of the first application and not to display thebroadcast resource or to terminate the operation of the firstapplication and display the broadcast resource in a normal status. 18.The transmission apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the firstcontrol information includes signature information, the signatureinformation being used for verification using a predeterminedcertificate when obtaining the first application.
 19. The transmissionapparatus according to claim 16, wherein the broadcast permissioninformation is specified for each broadcast service in a bitmap format.20. A transmission method for a transmission apparatus, comprising thesteps of: by the transmission apparatus, generating first controlinformation for controlling an operation of a first application, thefirst application being capable of requesting use of a broadcastresource transmitted via a digital broadcasting signal, the firstcontrol information being used when the broadcast resource is used bythe first application; and transmitting the first control informationvia a network in response to a request from a receiver apparatus.